MLB Trade Rumors: Tampa Bay Rays Target 3 Huge Names at Trade Deadline

The Tampa Bay Rays are doing Tampa Bay Ray things again this season. With a 3.0 game lead on the New York Yankees for top spot in the American League East Division, The Little Team That Could is once again preparing for a playoff run, and potentially a long one, in the weak AL.

To that end, they will be "aggressive" in trying to add some key pieces as we approach the Aug. 3rd trade deadline, per insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today. And he specifically dropped three huge names the Rays will make a push for:

• The Rays, who suddenly are seeing that the AL is wide open for the taking, plan to be aggressive buyers at the deadline. They not only have their eyes on Skubal, but they have shown interest in seeing whether the Diamondbacks would move second baseman Ketel Marte and Giants All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez as a backup plan.

So let's go over these three trade targets, and the likelihood of Tampa being able to land them:

Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

This is, of course, the big swing that every contender wants to take this year, given how weak the AL is. The only problem is, because of that league-wide ineptitude, even a team like the Tigers, who went on a 4-21 skid and finished the month of May at 22-38 still have a chance. Detroit has the American League’s best record since June 1st and now sits just 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. They very well might hang on to Skubal and give it a shot. 

So although the likes of the Rays, and the LA Dodgers, for that matter, might try to take their biggest swing at landing Skubal, he just might not be going anywhere. 

Odds: 1%

Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

While the Snakes' three-time All-Star was on the block during the offseason, they eventually pulled him back, hoping to make a run of it this year. Arizona is only three back in the Wild Card chase in the NL, so they might still consider themselves in it. If that's the case, Marte wouldn't be available. What's more, as Nightengale notes, "He now has 10-and-5 rights and is expected to veto all trades, which Arizona has told teams."

Odds: 10%

Luis Arraez, SF Giants

Here's the one that has the greatest chance of happening. Arraez could score a lot of runs in this lineup with his ability to get on base using his elite bat-to-ball skills. With a .370 OBP, if he could bat near the top of the order, he'd have exceptional run-producers batting in and around him in Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero. The results could be spectacular. Additionally, Arraez is having a very good year in the field as well, and could replace the weak-hitting Richie Palacios at second base. 

Odds: 50%