The Rays are going into the deadline as clear buyers and Robert Murray of FanSided reports that Angels shortstop Zach Neto and Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta are players they have shown interest in. MLBTR covered the Peralta tidbit in this post.
The fact that they are interested in Neto is unsurprising. He would be very appealing for them for many reasons. He has been a solidly above average big league shortstop for a few years now. Dating back to the start of 2024, he has a .248/.321/.453 line and 115 wRC+, indicating he has been 15% better than league average at the plate. He has stolen 69 bases in that time. Outs Above Average doesn’t like his glovework, with a minus-21 grade in that time, but he has been credited with 26 Defensive Runs Saved for those seasons.
On top of his skills, there is his contractual situation. Neto qualified for arbitration coming into this year as a Super Two guy. He is making $4.15MM this year and will be due raises in his three remaining seasons of arbitration control. Even for a lower-spending club like the Rays, he is very affordable.
Tampa hasn’t been getting that kind of production from its middle infield. Rays shortstops have a combined .226/.300/.307 line and 72 wRC+ this year, better than just Atlanta and Colorado. At second base, they have a .240/.331/.341 line and 93 wRC+, ahead of just 12 clubs.
Most of the shortstop playing time is going to Taylor Walls. The Rays clearly like him as a defender but he has a .199/.290/.298 line in 1,851 career plate appearances. Richie Palacios has gotten the lion’s share of playing time at second. He has a decent walk rate but just four home runs, so this year’s .232/.328/.341 batting line leads to a 92 wRC+. Ben Williamson has chipped in at both positions but is hitting just .249/.312/.328 for an 81 wRC+ this year.
Despite the limp production from the middle infield, the Rays have managed to go 62-43 on the season so far. They are 2.5 games up on the Yankees in the American League East and well positioned to make a run this year. The Playoff Odds at FanGraphs give Tampa a 98.4% shot of making the postseason. The PECOTA Standings at Baseball Prospectus are even more bullish, putting the Rays at 99.6%.
Upgrading the roster for the stretch run makes plenty of sense but it’s unclear if Neto is actually available. The Angels are certainly in position to sell, at least for the short term. They are 42-65, putting them in the American League basement and tied with the Rockies for the worst record overall.
What’s unclear is how aggressively they will sell. For most of recent history, they have considered themselves contenders and resisted big sell-off moves. They recently made a front office change. Last month, general manager Perry Minasian was fired. John Mozeliak, who ran the Cardinals front office for many years, is now steering the ship on an interim basis. Supposedly, he is going to choose a more permanent replacement by the offseason.
Reportedly, the club is willing to listen on controllable players like Neto, as well as starters Reid Detmers and José Soriano. Whether those conversations result in deals remain to be seen. Trading away an everyday shortstop with three-plus years of control would only make sense as part of a yearslong commitment to a rebuild, something the Angels have seemingly been avoiding. Even if they have an appetite to start one now, it might make more sense for them to anoint a new GM/president first so that person can line up trades for these players.
Even if Neto is available, the Rays will have competition in the bidding. The Red Sox have already been connected to him. Several other clubs are presumably in the mix as well. Middle infield alternatives who may be on the market this week include Luis Arraez, CJ Abrams, Gleyber Torres, Willi Castro and Brett Baty. The Giants would love to unload Willy Adames but the Rays aren’t a likely landing spot for his contract, which pays him $140MM over the five seasons after the current campaign.
Photo courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images
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