In a huge, blockbuster three team deal, the Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired OF Steven Souza Jr. (Rays) and RHP Taylor Widener (Yankees), the New York Yankees have acquired INF Brandon Drury (D-Backs) and the Tampa Bay Rays have acquired LHP Anthony Banda (D-Backs) and 2B Nick Solak (Yankees). The Yankees also DFA\’d OF Jabari Blash.
The Diamondbacks already had four outfielders: AJ Pollock, David Peralta, Yasmany Tomas and the recently signed Jarrod Dyson. I wouldn\’t be surprised if Tomas if traded, Souza takes his spot, and Dyson is the 4th outfielder. After losing OF J.D. Martinez to free agency, the D-Backs need some pop. Souza can bring them 30 homers. With their surplus of infielders, Drury isn\’t a big loss. Banda and Widener is basically a one-for-one for them.
Souza, 28, had a .239 batting average, 30 homers, 78 RBIs and 16 steals in 617 Plate Appearances for the Rays in 2017. In his MLB career, for the Rays and Washington Nationals, SOuza has a batting average of .236, with 65 homers, 169 RBIs and 35 stolen bases in 1537 Plate Appearances.
Widener, 22, has an ERA of 2.68, a 1.02 WHIP and 188 strikeouts in 157.2 innings in his minor league career.
For the Yankees, they get Drury, a second and third baseman, which is the two positions they need. Drury can start at one of them if Miguel Andujar or Gleyber Torres don\’t make the big league team. They give up two prospects, Solak and Widener, but you can\’t keep them all.
Drury, 25, had a .267 batting average, 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 480 Plate Appearances for the D-Backs in 2017. In his MLB career, all in the desert, Drury has a batting average of .271, with 31 homers and 124 RBIs in 1038 Plate Appearances.
For the rebuilding Rays, they get the two best prospects in this trade, and give up a power hitting outfielder with a lot of downside. As rebuilders, it\’s not a bad deal.
Solak, 22, has a .305 batting average, 15 homers, 78 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 817 Plate Appearances in his minor league career.
Banda, 24, made his MLB debut in 2017, with an ERA of 5.96, and a 1.40 WHIP, plus 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.
I think the Diamondbacks win this deal, with the Rays and Yankees tying for second. The D-backs get the best player involved, and a good prospect for a good prospect and the next best player involved. The Yankees get a good player, with control (Drury is under team control through 2021) for two solid prospects. The Rays get two solid prospects for a slightly overrated player.
CarterHud 