The defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays decided to designate outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment over the weekend just one year after he was the team’s biggest acquisition in a deal that sent away outfielder Tommy Pham.

The slugging outfielder was expected to become a solid presence in the heart of the Rays’ lineup in 2020, but things didn’t go as planned for the Mississippi native.

Renfroe struggled, batting just .156 with 8 home runs in 42 games with the team in the shortened 2020 season. He didn’t do much better in Tampa’s run to the World Series, batting only .174 with two home runs.

The Rays wanted to clear space on their 40-man roster in order to add a trio of prospects composed of Josh Lowe, Drew Strotman, and Taylor Walls, and Renfroe got the short end of the stick.

The team now must find a trade partner for the 28-year-old outfielder, release him, or outright him to the Minor Leagues if Renfroe accepts, which he is unlikely to do.

It’s an unhappy end to the short marriage between Renfroe and the Rays, and it looks as if he’ll try to get back on track elsewhere in the league in the 2021 season.

The post Rays Designate OF Hunter Renfroe for Assignment appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a trade that will send two established Major League starters from one coast and one league to another.

The Padres have agreed to a deal to acquire Rays outfielder Tommy Pham in exchange for outfielder Hunter Renfroe and second base prospect Xavier Edwards.

San Diego’s latest trade is one of many moves that they have made this offseason in an attempt to be competitive in the 2020 season. Pham will certainly help them, as he has been one of the more productive players at his position in recent years.

The outfielder, who primarily played in left field for Tampa in 2019, put up a strong season with a .273 batting average and a .369 on-base percentage along with 21 home runs. He will help improve a Padres offense that has struggled to get on base.

On the other hand, Tampa acquired a talented outfielder in Hunter Renfroe that has shown big power but limited on-base skills. The 27-year-old has blasted 89 homers in 3 seasons, but only owns a .235 average and a sub-.300 OBP.

Xavier Edwards, the prospect acquired by Tampa in the trade, is considered to be one of the top second base prospects in all of baseball. He could be the difference-maker in this deal.

This is an interesting deal that could end up benefiting both franchises in the long run.

The post Padres Acquire Tommy Pham, Rays Get Hunter Renfroe in Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays decided to designate outfielder Hunter Renfroe for assignment over the weekend just one year after he was the team’s biggest acquisition in a deal that sent away outfielder Tommy Pham.

The slugging outfielder was expected to become a solid presence in the heart of the Rays’ lineup in 2020, but things didn’t go as planned for the Mississippi native.

Renfroe struggled, batting just .156 with 8 home runs in 42 games with the team in the shortened 2020 season. He didn’t do much better in Tampa’s run to the World Series, batting only .174 with two home runs.

The Rays wanted to clear space on their 40-man roster in order to add a trio of prospects composed of Josh Lowe, Drew Strotman, and Taylor Walls, and Renfroe got the short end of the stick.

The team now must find a trade partner for the 28-year-old outfielder, release him, or outright him to the Minor Leagues if Renfroe accepts, which he is unlikely to do.

It’s an unhappy end to the short marriage between Renfroe and the Rays, and it looks as if he’ll try to get back on track elsewhere in the league in the 2021 season.

The post Rays Designate OF Hunter Renfroe for Assignment appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a trade that will send two established Major League starters from one coast and one league to another.

The Padres have agreed to a deal to acquire Rays outfielder Tommy Pham in exchange for outfielder Hunter Renfroe and second base prospect Xavier Edwards.

San Diego’s latest trade is one of many moves that they have made this offseason in an attempt to be competitive in the 2020 season. Pham will certainly help them, as he has been one of the more productive players at his position in recent years.

The outfielder, who primarily played in left field for Tampa in 2019, put up a strong season with a .273 batting average and a .369 on-base percentage along with 21 home runs. He will help improve a Padres offense that has struggled to get on base.

On the other hand, Tampa acquired a talented outfielder in Hunter Renfroe that has shown big power but limited on-base skills. The 27-year-old has blasted 89 homers in 3 seasons, but only owns a .235 average and a sub-.300 OBP.

Xavier Edwards, the prospect acquired by Tampa in the trade, is considered to be one of the top second base prospects in all of baseball. He could be the difference-maker in this deal.

This is an interesting deal that could end up benefiting both franchises in the long run.

The post Padres Acquire Tommy Pham, Rays Get Hunter Renfroe in Trade appeared first on SportzBonanza.