Buyers or sellers: Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 48-48

Games out of playoffs: 10.0 in AL East, 5.5 in wild-card

Buyer or Seller: Seller

After making five straight postseason appearances, the Tampa Bay Rays find themselves sitting at .500 with the second half of the season looming and struggling to keep pace with the rest of the teams in the American League.

With numerous injuries to their pitching staff and star outfielder Randy Arozarena having the worst season of his career, the likelihood of them clawing back into the postseason race is slim. Being a small market team, the Rays would be smart to become sellers at the deadline and add more talent to one of the top farm systems in baseball. 

With the trade deadline approaching, here is a player the Rays should trade to reload for next season. 

One move to make: Trade utilityman Amed Rosario 

Dealing Rosario should be a no-brainer for the Rays, signed to a one-year deal last offseason Rosario has been one of the few steady performers during the 2024 season. 

While splitting time at four positions, Rosario has slashed .308/.332/.418 with 19 extra-base hits and 26 RBI in 69 games played. With his versatility and ability to make contact, he would make a great bench bat for virtually every contender and could also be a starter if needed. 

One team that makes the most sense for Rosario is the Los Angeles Dodgers, with multiple injuries they have been stuck with underachieving utilitymen Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez both being in the lineup. 

Both Taylor and Hernandez are batting below .200 and have looked worse as the season has gone along, adding Rosario would give manager Dave Roberts a familiar face to use in the lineup after he spent time with the Dodgers last season.

While Rosario isn't likely to bring back a major piece as an unrestricted free agent after the season, the Dodgers have a deep farm system of talented players who could wind up contributing for their 2020 World Series opponent down the line.