Rays plan to be 'aggressive' at MLB trade deadline for simple AL reason

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Rays plan to be 'aggressive' at MLB trade deadline for simple AL reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Rays are currently 4.0 games up on the New York Yankees in the AL East, and with all other clubs well behind the Rays in the American League, they're in fantastic shape for a postseason spot.

But a first-round bye is also looking promising for the Rays. All of this combines to form an interesting scenario for Tampa Bay ahead of the MLB trade deadline. And they might be ready to take advantage of this situation.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Rays are planning to be "aggressive" at the MLB trade deadline this summer for a simple reason: the wide-open American League postseason field.

Rays plan to be aggressive at trade deadline due to 'wide-open' AL playoff field​

"'The Rays, who suddenly are seeing that the AL is wide open for the taking, plan to be aggressive buyers at the deadline," Nightengale reports.

This is a very exciting report for the Rays and their fanbase, as any fan would love to hear that their team is interested in being aggressive at the trade deadline as buyers.

Tampa Bay has some clear needs this summer, with the starting rotation and another slugger at the top of their wish-list at the trade deadline.

With a wide-open AL for the taking, and the Rays' history of making aggressive offers, most notably their Junior Caminero trade offer to the Los Angeles Angels for Shohei Ohtani, it would not be a surprise if Tampa Bay got aggressive.

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That's the plan right now for the Rays, according to Nightengale, and some very fun names could come to the Rays this summer.

Tarik Skubal is one of the big names who's not only been linked to the Rays, but would make a ton of sense. Joe Ryan would be great as well, not to mention infielders Ketel Marte and Luis Arraez.

Also, with the Rays potentially needing a new catcher, Liam Hicks of the Miami Marlins, Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies, and Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins could be worthwhile trade targets.

They're legitimate World Series contenders with the wide-open AL, and they plan to be aggressive at the trade deadline on August 3, with plenty of great targets who'd make a huge difference for this club's World Series chances.

More MLB news:​

• Cubs ‘realistic’ trade idea sends Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo
• Phillies trade idea lands Jung Hoo Lee and Robbie Ray from Giants for 2 prospects
• Yankees trade idea sends Carlos Lagrange to Athletics for utilityman Zack Gelof
• What happened to Shohei Ohtani? Why Dodgers star won't pitch tonight, or play in All-Star Game
• Cardinals sign JJ Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension

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