Rays throw in the towel for 2024, clear path in AL East for Orioles

Despite sitting just 3 games out of a Wild Card spot entering Monday morning, the Tampa Bay Rays have decided to give up on the 2024 season and have begun selling off players from their major league roster as they look ahead to the future.

On Friday, the Rays sent star outfielder Randy Arozarena to Seattle in exchange for two prospects, neither of whom are anywhere close to MLB-ready. They also sent starter Zach Eflin here to Baltimore for a trio of prospects who won't see the field until at least 2025.

They followed up the Arozarena and Eflin trades by moving two high-profile assets on Sunday afternoon, shipping third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Cubs and reliever Jason Adam to San Diego.

Rays give up on 2024, clear path for Orioles and Yankees in AL East

Depending on how you feel about Christopher Morel, part of the return for Paredes, you can view that trade with the Cubs as a lateral move. Assuming they play Morel in the outfield, it could allow Tampa to recall top prospect Junior Caminero for third base duties,

But all told, the four trades made by the Rays signal to the rest of the AL East that Tampa is putting themselves out of contention for the rest of the year. Baseball Reference has the Rays' expected win-loss record at 47-58, 6 wins worse than their actual mark. Therefore, it's possible that the Rays see themselves as having outperformed thus far, and they want to get a leg up on the league in getting ready for next year.

It's an admittedly curious decision, selling off major league talent in the thick of a Wild Card race while your ownership group is days away from getting final approval from Pinellas County for over $300 million in taxpayer money to help finance a new stadium for you. But, to each their own.

At the end of the day, this Rays sell off should be more beneficial to the Orioles than to the Yankees. Baltimore and Tampa have 6 games left on the schedule, while the Yanks and Rays have already concluded their season series.

With any luck, the O's should be able to capture a few easy victories that'll help as they push for a division title in August and September. The two sides' next meeting comes on August 9, when the Orioles will head to Tampa for a three-game set. They have one series after that, starting on September 6 in Baltimore.