Who Loses Their Roster Spot For Wander Franco?

With Wander Franco on his way to Tampa Bay to make his major league debut on Tuesday, the Rays have a decision still to make before they can add him to the roster: someone already on the already-full 40-man roster is going to have to come off.  There are a couple of ways the team can go about things in order to add the top prospect in all of baseball the last two years.

Designate A Minor-Leaguer On The 40-Man Roster

This is the most likely of scenarios, as there are a couple of players that are on the 40-man that either have not made their major league debut and most likely will not make their debut this year.  That takes players like Vidal Brujan or Josh Lowe out of the equation, as they have at least a 50/50 shot of making it up from Triple-A this year.  But it leaves two others that are on the roster that most Rays fans may not be aware of: pitcher Sean Poppen and infielder Wyatt Mathisen.

Poppen was acquired by the Rays from the Pittsburgh Pirates in mid-May, and while he struggled at the major league level this year in limited time (he allowed seven runs, four earned in just 4 2/3 innings with Pittsburgh), he has looked considerably better with the Durham Bulls.  The 27-year-old former Harvard standout has amassed a 0.77 ERA in nine appearances in Triple-A, and striking out 16 in just 11 2/3 innings.

But Kevin Cash has talked in the past about the need to hold on to as much pitching as possible, which makes Mathisen the more likely candidate.  The 27-year-old corner infielder is hitting .288/.344/.525 with three homers and nine RBI, but with the team also acquiring Mike Ford from the Yankees last week, he is likely to see his playing time get diminshed even further.

Move An Established Position Player

This is an interesting option because Brujan is hot on Franco’s heels for a big-league call-up, and to have Franco, Brujan, and Taylor Walls on the field at the same time, it means that another player is likely going to have to be moved.  I don’t see them moving Brandon Lowe because on top of his struggles at the plate this year against left-handed pitchers, he’s owed at least $20 million over the next four years:

• The remainder of his $2.5 million salary this year
• $18 million in guaranteed salary for 2022-2024
• A $1 million buyout for his two option years of 2025 and 2026

Any team that’s willing to take Lowe will likely ask the Rays to take a chunk of that deal, and to me, it’s better to see if this is a one-year hiccup for him.

Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz are also unlikely to be moved because of how well they grind out at-bats.  That leaves Joey Wendle, who has been a solid (if not overly stellar) contributor at the plate, versatile in the field, and fantastic in the clubhouse.  He has developed a lot of value since coming to Tampa Bay in the offseason prior to 2018, but he’s 31 and I could see the team trying to cash in on some of that value.

But if you see this move made before Tuesday, it’s because you’re going to see more than just Franco at the Trop this week.

Move An Established Pitcher

I think I have more of a shot of actually taking Erik Neander’s job than the Rays general manager moving a pitcher mid-season.  And to be honest, if he trades an established pitcher mid-season, I should have his job.  Pitching is such a desired commodity that any team looking to make a postseason run should be hoarding as much of it as possible.  So this shouldn’t be happening.

My prediction: Mathisen is deginated for assignment, with the Rays talking about a possible trade when Brujan is ready to be called up.