Rays send Siri to Mets for RHP Orze, creating opportunity in CF

TAMPA, Fla. -- At the plate, on the bases and especially in center field, Jose Siri occasionally flashed his enormous potential over 2 1/2 seasons with the Rays. He hit 25 home runs in 2023 and was among the most valuable defensive players in baseball this past season. He delivered clutch hits and made game-changing plays in the outfield, all with his signature blend of style and flair.

But Siri’s upside came with extended slumps at the plate, bouts of inconsistency and an occasional lack of hustle. Rather than giving him a raise next season in his first year of arbitration eligibility, the Rays traded Siri to the Mets on Tuesday for 27-year-old reliever Eric Orze.

TRADE DETAILS

Rays receive: RHP Eric Orze
Mets receive: OF Jose Siri

Moving Siri creates an opening in center field that will primarily be filled by Jonny DeLuca, Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday night. DeLuca had seven hits and 10 RBIs in his first five games with Tampa Bay, struggled through the summer, then hit .265/.315/.392 while playing high-quality defense over his final 50 games.

“His history of just what he's been able to do with more reps, given what a good athlete he is, he's just continued to get better. And I think we saw that the last few months,” Neander said of DeLuca. “When we look ahead to next year, we felt better about leaning on him to take the majority of the reps in center field. And once we made that decision, then you start considering how to make the most of your roster spots around that, and we felt like this was in the best interest of our club.”

Siri, 29, showed his impressive raw power this year by slugging 18 homers, and his defense -- a priority for the Rays in center field -- remained elite. He led the Rays with 12 game-winning RBIs and tied for second among Major League outfielders with 16 outs above average, according to Statcast. But he slashed just .187/.255/.366 while striking out 170 times over 448 plate appearances in a career-high 130 games this year, and he was benched twice for a lack of hustle.

“He can electrify the audience by completing plays that few, if any, can. But it is certainly a boom-or-bust type of profile,” Neander said. “That's who he is, right? And that's OK. When you get power and you get great defense in center field, there's a lot about that that we appreciate.”

Orze, 27, joins the Rays with a remarkable back story, having beaten cancer twice. The rookie is also coming off a strong season for Triple-A Syracuse, as he put together a 2.92 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings over 43 appearances. He gave up four runs in two Major League appearances for the Mets in July. The right-hander, primarily a fastball-changeup pitcher, will provide additional depth in an already-stacked Rays bullpen.

The Rays always try to stockpile arms, but having optionable multi-inning relievers like Orze could be particularly important as they navigate a hot, rainy summer of outdoor baseball at Steinbrenner Field. Neander said they’ve liked Orze “for some time” and think he could benefit from working with Tampa Bay’s renowned pitching department.

“Eric is somebody that could be next in the long line of pitchers that have come here and had their best right in front of them,” Neander said.

The Rays could use Richie Palacios or Josh Lowe to back up DeLuca in center field, Neander said. Or they could consider Jake Mangum, the switch-hitting center fielder who was added to their 40-man roster on Tuesday after an excellent season with Triple-A Durham to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

The Rays shielded three players from the Rule 5 Draft overall, having selected left-handed pitching prospects Ian Seymour (No. 17 in Tampa Bay’s system) and Joe Rock (No. 22) on Monday to protect them as valuable parts of their rotation depth.

The 28-year-old Mangum slashed .317/.357/.442 with six homers, 30 doubles, 56 RBIs and 20 steals in 104 games for Durham after joining the Rays as the player to be named in a trade with the Marlins last December. Mangum became the first Bulls player to win the International League batting title since Jake Cronenworth in 2019, and he was rewarded with a spot on the 40-man roster for the first time in his career.

“Honestly, it was one of the most rewarding calls we made,” assistant general manager Kevin Ibach said. “Giving him that news, one thing he told us is, 'You're not going to regret this decision. I'm going to give you everything I have.' And I think watching him play over the past year, there's no doubt in my mind that's exactly what he'll do.”

The Rays also traded infielder Austin Shenton to the Mariners for cash considerations on Tuesday, a day after designating him for assignment. It’s a return home for Shenton, the Washington native who joined Tampa Bay in a 2021 trade from Seattle.

To make room for Mangum, the Rays designated lefty reliever Richard Lovelady for assignment. Tampa Bay acquired Lovelady, 29, from the Cubs last May and saw him put together a 3.77 ERA with two saves, 20 strikeouts and nine walks in 28 2/3 innings over 28 appearances.

The Rays seemed likely to part with at least one left-handed reliever, as they entered the offseason with Colin Poche, Garrett Cleavinger, Mason Montgomery, Lovelady and the versatile Tyler Alexander. They have further left-handed depth on their 40-man roster in Jacob Lopez, Seymour and Rock.

Agreeing to a split contract with Cole Sulser, dropping Lovelady and trading Siri leaves the Rays with nine arbitration-eligible players heading into Friday’s deadline to tender contracts to unsigned players.