The Tampa Bay Rays had been known to be seeking another piece for their rotation. They paid a steep price for that upgrade.
Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times had reported that the Rays had acquired pitcher Aaron Civale. In exchange, first base prospect Kyle Manzardo is heading to Cleveland.
Tampa Bay Rays may regret trading Kyle Manzardo
Civale gives the Rays exactly what they were looking for. He should be the perfect fit in a rotation that has already lost Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen for the season. Not only does he have two more years of team control, but Civale has been excellent this season, posting a 2.34 ERA and a 1.039 WHiP over his 77 innings, striking out 58 batters with 22 walks. However, Civale has routinely spent time on the Injured List with a variety of ailments, adding another health risk to their pitching staff.
Manzardo is the rare first base prospect that has actually been able to crack the Top 100 Prospects list. He is lauded for his ability to make hard contact and excellent feel for the strike zone, traits that should make him a dangerous major league hitter for years. While he has struggled to a .238/.342/.442 batting line in his 313 Triple-A plate appearances, he has also hit 19 doubles and 11 homers.
He is also the type of hitter that the Rays have been seeking. They have been looking for potential impact bats to upgrade their lineup, especially after their failures in the postseason. Manzardo has solid pop and his ability to grind out an at bat is an asset. Should Civale’s injury woes continue, the Rays could come to regret this trade. Of course, a championship changes that equation entirely.
The Tampa Bay Rays needed to upgrade their rotation. Trading Kyle Manzardo for Aaron Civale was a steep price to pay.
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