Why Rays are 'better bet' to swing a blockbuster trade than Brewers

The Tampa Bay Rays are sitting atop the American League East, and all of the American League is coming out of the All-Star break.

With the trade deadline on the horizon, the Rays have been a team often linked to players like Tarik Skubal and Luis Arraez, as there have been rumors they're going to be aggressive this summer.

Similar rumors have spread about the Milwaukee Brewers, but which smaller-budget team is more likely to be big spenders this summer? Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic named the Rays as that team, saying they're the "better bet" to pull a surprise trade.

Rays are 'better bet' than Brewers to swing blockbuster deal

"Will either the Rays or Brewers pull a surprise? The Tampa Bay Rays are the better bet," Rosenthal writes. "Going back to when Andrew Friedman ran their front office, they often have been in the mix for big names at the deadline - none bigger than Shohei Ohtani, whom they seriously pursued in 2023."

The Rays have already shown a willingness to pursue top-of-the-market players at the trade deadline in the past when they've been serious contenders.

With a strong core this season, in both the pitching staff and the lineup, now is the time for the Rays to take another big swing.

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The Brewers, on the other hand, could use some help as well. But, they have not been a team as strongly linked to the blockbuster move in recent years.

Unless the Brewers buck the trend they've set in recent years, the Rays are the much more likely team to pull off a surprise blockbuster deal at the deadline.

Whether it's someone like Skubal, Robbie Ray, Freddy Peralta, Arraez, Hunter Goodman, or Ryan Jeffers, the Rays are the more likely team to land a star this summer.

With the trade deadline only a few weeks away, Rays fans should be on the lookout for rumors about any catcher, second baseman, starting pitcher, or reliever, as those are the Rays' top four needs this summer.

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