Trade: Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins Swing Deal

In a surprising move, the Tampa Bay Rays have dealt the player who was in the mix for their starting shortstop job in 2024. In an even more intriguing move, it was a rare cross-Florida trade with the Miami Marlins.

Peter Bendix makes a trade with the Rays. @DanielAlvarezEE was first with the report, per @mlbtraderumors. https://t.co/EqpPSVN7pM
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 17, 2023

The Rays trade former high-end prospect Vidal Brujan along with reliever Calvin Faucher to the Fish, in return for right-hander Andrew Lindsey, Miami’s fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, 17-year-old infielder Erick Lara, and a player to be named later.

With Wander Franco's future up in the air due to pending investigations by MLB into alleged improper relationships with minors, the shortstop job is up for grabs. Taylor Walls, the other potential starter, had hip surgery last month and is questionable for the start of the season.

But the 25-year-old Brujan had apparently lost favor with the Rays, after posting a .157 average with 10 extra-base hits over 99 games across parts of three seasons. He's a switch-hitter with speed, and the Marlins are hoping a fresh start allows him to reach his potential.

As for the young prospects the Rays got in return, president of baseball operations Erik Neander said, “(they are) players that have some good ingredients, excited to bring them in and see what happens.”

Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports