Rays Shopping for Upgrades: Why Zach Neto Makes Perfect Sense for Tampa Bay

The Big Picture: Rays Are Buying at the Deadline

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a great spot. They’re leading their division with a 62-43 record and have a 98-99% chance of making the playoffs. But they have one clear weakness: their middle infield (shortstop and second base) isn’t hitting well. So as the trade deadline approaches, they’re looking to add talent—and they’ve got their eyes on two big names:

• Zach Neto – Shortstop for the Los Angeles Angels
• Freddy Peralta – Starting pitcher for the New York Mets

Important Point: The Rays don’t usually spend big money, so they look for smart trades—players who are good and affordable for several years.

Why Zach Neto? He Checks Every Box

1. He’s Actually Good at Baseball

Since the start of 2024, Neto has been 15% better than the average hitter (that’s what "115 wRC+" means—think of it like a test score where 100 is average).

• Batting line: .248/.321/.453
• Power & speed: 69 stolen bases in that time
• Defense: Mixed reviews. One metric (Outs Above Average) says he’s below average, but another (Defensive Runs Saved) gives him +26—that’s elite!

2. His Contract Is a Steal (Especially for the Rays)

• 2025 salary: $4.15 million
• Team control: 3 more years of "arbitration" (salary decided by a formula, not free agency)
• Super Two status: He qualified early for arbitration, but he’s still very affordable for a team like Tampa Bay that watches every dollar.

ELI5: What is "Arbitration" and "Super Two"?

• Arbitration: After 3 years in the majors, players can negotiate raises based on performance. It’s cheaper than free agency.
• Super Two: The top 22% of players with 2–3 years of service time get arbitration one year early. Neto qualified, but he’s still under team control through 2028.

3. The Rays Desperately Need What He Offers

Current starters:

• Taylor Walls (SS): Great glove, but .199 career hitter
• Richie Palacios (2B): Good walk rate, only 4 HRs, 92 wRC+
• Ben Williamson (both): 81 wRC+

Neto would be an instant, massive upgrade.

Can the Rays Actually Get Him?

The Angels’ Situation

• Record: 42–65 (worst in the American League)
• New leadership: GM Perry Minasian fired; longtime Cardinals exec John Mozeliak is interim boss
• Reported stance: "Willing to listen" on Neto, plus pitchers Reid Detmers & José Soriano

The Catch

Trading a 24-year-old everyday shortstop with 3+ years of control usually means a full rebuild. The Angels have avoided that for years. Even if they’re ready now, they might wait for a permanent GM to make that call.

The Competition

• Red Sox already linked to Neto
• Other suitors: Almost certainly multiple teams
• Alternatives on the market: Luis Arraez, CJ Abrams, Gleyber Torres, Willi Castro, Brett Baty
• Willy Adames (Giants): Too expensive ($140M over 5 years post-2025) for Tampa

What About Freddy Peralta?

The Rays also like the Mets’ righty starter. He’s a strikeout artist with team control, and Tampa Bay always needs pitching depth. But the Neto fit is tighter—middle infield is their biggest hole, and Neto solves it for years.

Summary: Why This Makes Sense

Bottom line: Zach Neto is the ideal target for Tampa Bay. Whether they can pull it off depends on the Angels’ new direction—and how much the Rays are willing to pay in prospects.

FAQ

1. What does "wRC+" mean?

Weighted Runs Created Plus. It measures hitting compared to league average (100 = average). Neto’s 115 means he creates 15% more runs than a typical hitter. It adjusts for ballpark and era, so it’s fair across all players.

2. Why are the Rays’ middle infield numbers so bad?

They’ve relied on defense-first players (Walls) and unproven bats (Palacios, Williamson). None have hit consistently, and the combined production ranks near the bottom of MLB.

3. What is "team control" and why does it matter?

It means the team owns the player’s rights for several years before free agency. For a low-budget team like the Rays, cost-controlled talent is gold—you get production without huge salaries.

4. Why would the Angels trade a young star like Neto?

Only if they commit to a full rebuild—trading veterans for prospects to win in 3–5 years. Their new interim GM (Mozeliak) has rebuilt before (Cardinals), but the owner must sign off.

5. Could the Rays trade for someone else instead?

Yes! Names like CJ Abrams, Gleyber Torres, or Luis Arraez are rumored available. But Neto combines youth, affordability, speed, power, and positional fit better than most.

Photo courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images