How about this deal?

[Backtobanks]

From MLBTR:

 

If The Rays Become Buyers

By Tim Dierkes [July 11 at 12:26pm CST]

The Rays are five games out in the wild card and six out in the AL East. With less than three weeks remaining until the trade deadline, they're currently sitting on the uncomfortable borderline of contention.

 

The Rays rank eighth among the 14 AL teams with 4.22 runs scored per game. They're eleventh in OBP and seventh in SLG. Evan Longoria missed most of April with an oblique strain, so just having him for the entire second half would provide a boost. On the flip side, Matt Joyce may be unable to reproduce his strong first half. How might the Rays go about improving the offense?

 

•Catcher: John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach have struggled offensively. Some names on which the Rays could kick the tires: Ramon Hernandez, Chris Iannetta, Ryan Doumit (when healthy), Ronny Paulino, and Geovany Soto.

•Shortstop: Out of Reid Brignac, Elliot Johnson, and Sean Rodriguez, Rodriguez has the most useful bat. The Rays might not be able to beat his .223/.308/.408 line on the trade market, with Jose Reyes, J.J. Hardy, and Hanley Ramirez unlikely to be dealt. Rafael Furcal could be worth a look, if the Dodgers pick up most of the tab.

•Left field: As I mentioned today, possible reasonably-priced trade candidates include Josh Willingham, Ryan Ludwick, David DeJesus, and Luke Scott (when healthy). Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer could be considerations from the Rays' Triple-A team.

 

Who would hang up first?

Byrd, Soto, and Baker for Upton, Niemann, and Brignac. (Baker plays 2B and Zobrist moves to SS)

[Tryptamine]

From MLBTR:

 

If The Rays Become Buyers

By Tim Dierkes [July 11 at 12:26pm CST]

The Rays are five games out in the wild card and six out in the AL East. With less than three weeks remaining until the trade deadline, they're currently sitting on the uncomfortable borderline of contention.

 

The Rays rank eighth among the 14 AL teams with 4.22 runs scored per game. They're eleventh in OBP and seventh in SLG. Evan Longoria missed most of April with an oblique strain, so just having him for the entire second half would provide a boost. On the flip side, Matt Joyce may be unable to reproduce his strong first half. How might the Rays go about improving the offense?

 

•Catcher: John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach have struggled offensively. Some names on which the Rays could kick the tires: Ramon Hernandez, Chris Iannetta, Ryan Doumit (when healthy), Ronny Paulino, and Geovany Soto.

•Shortstop: Out of Reid Brignac, Elliot Johnson, and Sean Rodriguez, Rodriguez has the most useful bat. The Rays might not be able to beat his .223/.308/.408 line on the trade market, with Jose Reyes, J.J. Hardy, and Hanley Ramirez unlikely to be dealt. Rafael Furcal could be worth a look, if the Dodgers pick up most of the tab.

•Left field: As I mentioned today, possible reasonably-priced trade candidates include Josh Willingham, Ryan Ludwick, David DeJesus, and Luke Scott (when healthy). Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer could be considerations from the Rays' Triple-A team.

 

Who would hang up first?

Byrd, Soto, and Baker for Upton, Niemann, and Brignac. (Baker plays 2B and Zobrist moves to SS)

 

Not all that close in my eyes. Brignac is awful, Darwin has been superior this year and I feel safe in saying one of DJ/Flaherty could outperform him next year. Niemann has been poor this year with his H/9 on the rise and his K/9 falling. I can't confidently say he'd start over Wells and I wouldn't want him starting ahead of Cashner. BJ, despite being a good player, is only under team control for one more year.

If you want a deal with the Rays I'd want Moore, but I'm sure he's untouchable. I would think something more along the lines of Desmond Jennings+Hellickson, but again Hellisckson might be untouchable. Either way it would be something like Jennings+Cobb+Beckham. I wouldn't mind getting Lee back, but the way he's surged I don't know if that's reasonable.

[pitchcs]

Think there's pretty close to 0% chance the Rays are dealing Moore or Hellickson.

[Illini Iceman]

If they don't do well in their games right after the all star break against the Yankees and Red Sox I wouldn't be surprised if the Rays become sellers and try to move Upton, Kotchman, Farnsworth and maybe even Shields if the price is right (but obviously not to anyone in the AL East).