MLB Insider Claims Tampa Bay Rays Are Shopping Slugger on Trade Market

The Tampa Bay Rays are interested in trading designated hitter Harold Ramírez, according to a new report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal on Monday.

Ramírez, who MLB Trade Rumors projects to make $4.4 million in arbitration in 2024, has two years left of team control. The 29-year-old Columbian slugger is fresh off posting a career-high 2.1 WAR across 122 games in Tampa Bay.

Rosenthal was writing about Ramírez's status in the context of a few recent moves the Rays made. The team traded outfielder and first baseman Luke Raley to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for infielder José Caballero on Friday night, then sent reliever Andrew Kittredge to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Richie Palacios less than an hour later.

Per Rosenthal, Tampa Bay aimed to increase positional versatility by adding Caballero, then got Palacios to take over Raley's innings in the outfield. And with Raley gone, 25-year-old first baseman/designated hitter Jonathan Aranda should be able to get more at-bats against righties.

Ramírez remains in Arranda's way as well, however, which could motivate the Rays to deal him off too.

Curtis Mead, a 23-year-old third baseman, could also benefit from Ramírez's departure.

Ramírez is hitting .306 with a .780 OPS and 3.3 WAR since joining the Rays in 2022. Per 162 games, he is averaging 12 home runs, 29 doubles, 165 hits and 84 RBI, all while owning a 121 OPS+.

Arranda, on the other hand, hit just .230 with a .708 OPS in 87 big league at-bats in 2023. In Triple-A this past season, though, Arranda hit .339 with 25 home runs, 81 RBI and a 1.063 OPS.

And on top of being more than three years younger than Ramírez, Arranda won't hit free agency until 2030.