Sherman: Rays likely to trade from SP depth

Leaving the General Manager meetings, the Tampa Bay Rays appear likely to trade at least one of its starting pitchers this off-season, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Sherman reported that Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, or possibly Alex Cobb could be on the move. The Rays have already fielded calls on the 28-year-old Archer as Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reported on Tuesday that the Atlanta Braves have inquired on the right-hander.

Archer led the American League with 19 losses last season but still posted a respectable 4.02 ERA in 201.1 innings for a struggling Tampa Bay Staff.

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Drew Smyly, acquired in the deal that sent David Price to the Detroit Tigers in 2014, pitched a full season in 2016 after missing most of 2015 due to a shoulder injury.

In 30 starts, the left-hander went 7-12 with a 4.88 ERA (4.49 FIP) in 175.1 innings. The 27-year-old pitched much better after the All-Star break; he went 2-10 with a 5.47 ERA in 17 starts before and 5-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 13 starts after the break.

Odorizzi, 26, enjoyed the strongest campaign of any Rays starter. He went 10-6 with a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts (3.0 WAR). He has made at least 28 starts for the Rays each year since 2014 and posted a career high in innings pitched (187.2) last season.

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Finally, Cobb is the pitcher with the lowest value of the four. He’s still on the mend from Tommy John surgery in 2015; he came back in 2016 to make five poor outings, finishing with a 8.59 ERA. While the Rays would be selling low, Cobb was effective as recently as 2014, going 10-9 with a 2.87 ERA in 27 starts (3.9 WAR).

With the team willing to listen on offers for franchise staple Evan Longoria, any of the the Rays’ hurlers are fair game in trades.