Tomorrow is the option decision deadline AND the initial qualifying offer deadline AND the opening of players being able to sign with new teams, and, though the offseason already began earlier this week, it always feels like tomorrow’s deadlines really kick off the offseason.
Unless two teams get together on a huge, six-player trade, that is:
The #Rays acquired SS Brad Miller, 1B/OF Logan Morrison & RHP Danny Farquhar from Seattle for Nathan Karns, C.J. Riefenhauser & Boog Powell.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) November 6, 2015
Those might not all be household names for you, but there’s a whole lot of talent being swapped in that deal. The offseason started with a bang just now.
Brad Miller is probably the biggest name, being a versatile infielder with a notable prospecting background. He can play multiple positions, appears to be turning the corner with the bat, and is cost-controlled. In other words, he’s very much a Rays target.
The Rays are also getting a bounce-back reliever candidate in Farquhar, who was brilliant in 2013 and 2014, and the up-and-down Logan Morrison.
As for the Mariners, their big net is Nate Karns, a very intriguing righty starter (who was shut down in September with a forearm issue), who actually came up in Cubs-related mentions midseason. I know nothing about Riefenhauser, other than the fact that he’s a lefty reliever and has a groovy name. Boog Powell (not that Boog Powell) is a quality outfield prospect.
With the various deadlines coming tomorrow, it’s possible this isn’t the only activity we see in the next 24 hours. It’s fun.