The Tampa Bay Rays have made their second trade in three days to change the look of their outfield, but at the cost of one of their clubhouse leaders in the process.
The Rays announced they have acquired Jose Siri from the Houston Astros as part of a three-team deal involving both the Astros and Baltimore Orioles. Tampa Bay will send minor-league pitcher Seth Johnson to the Orioles and minor-league pitcher Jayden Murray to the Astros.
Siri has struggled at the plate this season with Houston, hitting .178/.238/.304 with three homers and 10 RBI in 48 games, but in his rookie year of 2021 he had a .956 OPS in 21 games.
Johnson, who the Rays drafted 40th overall in 2019 out of Campbell University, made seven starts with High-A Bowling Green this season, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. He is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, and miss the remainder of this season and most of 2023.
Murray, taken in the 23rd round of the same draft, has made 16 appearances including 15 starts at Double-A Montgomery this year, amassing a record of 8-2 with a 2.83 earned run average. He also made one start at Triple-A Durham, taking the loss and allowing five runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
To make room on the roster for Siri, the Rays designated outfielder Brett Phillips for assignment. Phillips, the hero of Game 4 of the 2020 World Series, and one of the most popular players among the fans, has struggled at the plate this year, with a .475 OPS and 85 strikeouts in just 184 at bats.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
