TRADE: Tampa Bay Rays Boost Rotation in Deal With Guardians

The Tampa Bay Rays have been searching for starting pitching help for months, as their rotation has been struck by numerous major injuries. Today, on the eve of the trade deadline, they've acquired Cleveland Guardians' starter Aaron Civale.

The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring right-hander Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN. They will receive first baseman Kyle Manzardo in return.

Deal is done.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2023

In return, the Guardians get a very nice return, nabbing the Rays' No. 4 prospect, first baseman Kyle Manzardo, and the 2nd-ranked 1B prospect in the sport.

Civale has had an excellent season in Cleveland, with a 2.34 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, while holding opponents to a .207 average and a .580 OPS. He will slot right into the middle of the Rays' rotation, after Shane McClanahan and Tyler Glasnow, along with Zach Eflin.

The Rays lost Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen to season-ending surgery earlier this year, and top prospect Shane Baz has missed the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery last year.

Civale, 28, still has two more years of team control for the Rays.

Manzardo is the No. 37 prospect in all of baseball; he emerged as one of Tampa's top hitting prospects in 2022, but has been sidelined recently with a sore left shoulder. He should return to action shortly and be joining the Guardians' Triple-A club.

One rival exec's input on Guardians acquisition Kyle Manzardo: "He rakes."

Scouting report on Manzardo from The Athletic's Keith Law: pic.twitter.com/FCy5Oc2KS8
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) July 31, 2023