The Rays parted ways with starter Matt Garza after his career season. The Rays minor league system is getting stocked, but the big league team might suffer here for a bit. On a good note, if the Rays had one thing they could part with, it’s starting pitching.
The Rays gave up Matt Garza, Fernando Perez (hardly a prospect at 27) and Zachary Rosscup (reliever, could do something down the line) for Chris Archer (another starting pitcher), Hak-Ju Lee (shortstop, could eventually replace Bartlett now that he’s gone), Brandon Guyer (another blue chip), Robinson Chirinos and Sam Fuld.
Garza would have been due for a nice raise but he won’t be a free agent until 2014. Still, it’s probably better for him and us that he goes somewhere where they’ll lock him up. The Rays are going to keep crying poor until they get their new stadium.
