Currently hovering around a .500 record for the season, the Tampa Bay Rays seem to be focusing on their future prospects. They stand to gain from the intense interest of two prominent teams — the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers — who are both eager to bolster their rosters for a World Series push. Both teams are reportedly keen on acquiring Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes.
As noted by MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Dodgers, who lead the NL West, and the Yankees, just a game behind in the AL East, are in a heated competition for Paredes. The Houston Astros, another team vying for the playoffs, are also interested in him.
Nightengale highlighted that the Rays are benefiting from the rivalry between the Dodgers and Yankees in their pursuit of Paredes. Additionally, the Astros, who are also seeking a starting pitcher and are eyeing Flaherty and Feddex, have shown strong interest in Paredes.
Paredes, a first-time All-Star this year, has been a standout player for the Rays, who are considering trades as the MLB deadline approaches. At 25, Paredes is enjoying one of his best seasons yet and might just be hitting his stride. Following a season with 31 home runs and 98 RBIs, along with a .250 average, .352 on-base percentage, .488 slugging percentage, and .840 OPS, he is on track to match or exceed those numbers this year.
With a 2.9 fWAR this season, ranking 20th in the AL and ahead of all Yankees batters except Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, Paredes has been a key performer. The Yankees, who have faced inconsistency at third base with DJ LeMahieu struggling, see Paredes as a valuable addition.
As the Yankees, Dodgers, and Astros all fight for playoff positions — with the Yankees leading the AL Wild Card, the Dodgers holding a 5.5-game lead in the NL West, and the Astros narrowly ahead in the AL West — the pursuit of Paredes could significantly impact their postseason ambitions.
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