:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60494287/usa_today_10907327.0.jpg)
It would appear that Wednesday morning’s trade of Nathan Eovaldi to the Boston Red Sox was not the last move the Rays would make ahead of the deadline. Late Wednesday afternoon, they traded right-handed pitcher Matt Andriese to the Arizona Diamonbacks. In return the Rays have received two minor league prospects: catcher Michael Perez and RHP Brian Shaffer.
In the 2018 season with the Rays, Andriese has a 3-4 record and 4.07 ERA in 27 appearances. As a starter he has done significantly better, pitching a 3.18 ERA to his relief appearance numbers, a 4.28 ERA. Andriese was originally acquired from the San Diego Padres as part of a seven player trade in 2014.
The new returns are two solid pieces.
Haul for TB in Andriese trade: headliner is C Michael Perez. Fits TB type of close to MLB, contact/defense, up the middle. 55 glove, elite framer by multiple team metrics, improved D this year. 55 hit, contact type with some power, likely backup type but maybe a little more.
— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) July 25, 2018
25-year-old catcher Michael Perez, who was recently listed as the best defensive catcher in the Diamonbacks organization by Baseball America. This season he has a .284/.342/.417 line in Triple-A Reno and a 38.4% caught stealing record. Perez was drafted by the Diamondbacks out of high school in 2011.
Perez seems like key to #Rays trade of Andriese, a 25-year-old with strong defensive tools who is hitting .284 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 58 games for Triple-A Reno.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 25, 2018
Pitcher Brian Shaffer, only 21, has been working out of the Diamondbacks Class-A Kane County team, where he has a 2.70 ERA and a 7-5 record this season. He was drafted by the Diamondbacks just last season in the sixth round of the amateur draft. In university he played ball with Rays minor league prospect Brandon Lowe at University of Maryland. Prior to the trade he was considered the 23rd best player in the Diamondbacks organization.
While the Rays lacking clear options at catcher, some see Shaffer as a steal.
Matt Andriese is a nice addition for Arizona -- versatile, as are pretty much all pitchers leaving Tampa Bay these days. No surprise Rays dealt him, with Andriese hitting arbitration this winter. Brian Shaffer is the prize here for them, a big righty doing well in Midwest League.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 25, 2018
Andriese is currently under club control until 2021, so he’ll be a great controllable asset for Arizona.
Update - Rays fans will not have to wait long to see Perez make his major league debut.
New C Perez will join #Rays in Baltimore on Thursday and Adam Moore will be DFA'd
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 25, 2018