The Tampa Bay Rays & Rob Refsnyder

The New York Yankees floated around the idea of trading infielder and utility player Robert Refsnyder this offseason but then Didi Gregorius got hurt leaving many to speculate that those trade talks would all but take a back seat for now. Well apparently that speculation and about $15 will get you a beer at Yankee Stadium because reportedly the organization is still looking to trade Refsnyder and they may have found an interested party in the Tampa Bay Rays.

According to the Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Tompkin the Tampa Bay Rays are looking to add a cheap, young and controllable right-handed bat and the team has their eye on Refsnyder as that possible bat going forward. The Yankees still may want to move Refsnyder as he may or may not even have a spot on the team right now. With Gregorius out the Yankees could easily find at-bats and playing time for him but they could also give that playing time to one of Pete Kozma, Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade, Ji-Man Choi, Donovan Solano or others not named Gleyber Torres. To move Refsnyder still makes sense on paper and it would also create a 40 man roster spot for someone like Jordan Montgomery if he ends up winning the 4^th or 5^th starting rotation spots this spring.

In the report Tompkin states that the Rays are looking for not only a right-handed bat but specifically a shortstop or an outfielder. While Refsnyder has not played shortstop in his minor league or major league career he does have some experience in both right field and left field and he also brings that versatility that Tampa just absolutely loves on defense. Refsnyder’s line-drive hitting and professional approach at the plate would fit in well with any team but would especially fit in with a team like Tampa Bay who needs any and all protection around Evan Longoria if they want to compete whatsoever this season.

It is worth mentioning I think that both the Rays and the Yankees are said to be interested in the Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed so maybe a three-team trade could be worked out? Who knows… I guess you will just have to stay tuned to find out.