RAYS, PADS MAKE SEVEN-PLAYER SWAP
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired infielder Logan Forsythe, pitchers Brad Boxberger, Matt Andriese and Matt Lollis, plus infielder Maxx Tissenbaum from the San Diego Padres for pitchers Alex Torres and Jesse Hahn.
What does it give the Tampa Bay Rays
It's rare when teams make seven-player deals, and even more rare when none of the players are projected regulars. Forsythe has a strong right-handed bat, though, so he should see a fair amount of playing time for the Rays in 2014. He should end up in a platoon with somebody, somewhere. Boxberger looks to re-energize his career, and he may end up pitching out of the Rays' bullpen at some point. Andriese is an average starter prospect, while Lollis is a reliever with a big fastball who should be watched closely. Tissenbaum is a middle infielder who is a long way from the bigs.
What does it give the San Diego Padres
Torres should be an important piece out of San Diego's bullpen in '14, as he figures to be the team's main left-handed specialist. However, the potential gem in this deal for the Padres is Hahn, a 23-year-old right-hander with good stuff who posted excellent numbers at high Single-A Charlotte last season. If developed properly, he may make an impact once he arrives in Southern California. In this deal, the Pads surrendered quantity in order to fill a need (Torres) and add more quality (Hahn) to their group of starting pitcher prospects. All told, it was a good deal for both squads.
Fantasy impact
Forsythe's versatility should endear him to Rays manager Joe Maddon, who loves to mix and match with his everyday lineup. Forsythe's fantasy value should spike up as a result. Boxberger is a dark horse to pitch in Tampa Bay this year, so he too sees a boost in value after the deal. As for Torres, he may see more setup opportunities (and the occasional save chance) in San Diego, so he too now has increased fantasy value. As for the rest, Hahn should now be on the keeper-league radar as a potential frontline starter with the Pads.
Player focus
Tampa Bay Rays
