Key Points
- Rays traded lefty-hitting catcher Hunter Feduccia to the Dodgers on Monday after acquiring power hitter Liam Hicks.
- Feduccia was emotional leaving Tampa Bay, pausing multiple times while composing himself before heading west Tuesday.
- Manager Kevin Cash noted they secured a .646 OPS from him and Fortes tandem in sixty games this season.
- The Rays added outfielder Jack Suwinski to the roster optioning reliever Michael Grove back to Triple-A Durham.
DENVER — You might think trading a catcher is just another Tuesday, but it feels different when your team is full of emotion. The Tampa Bay Rays were excited about acquiring power-hitting catcher Liam Hicks from the Marlins on Monday. They were sad to say goodbye to Hunter Feduccia who had been the lefty-hitting half of their backstop platoon.
Rather than send Feduccia to Triple-A Durham, the Rays sent him back to the Dodgers a year and a couple days after acquiring him from their Triple-A squad. While Feduccia was headed to Chicago to join the Dodgers on Tuesday he was emotional on Monday about leaving the Rays pausing a couple of times to compose himself.
The Emotional Goodbye at the Locker
“This (trade) feels a little different,” he said while composing his thoughts in front of teammates. He added I am super appreciative of the opportunity the Rays gave me and worked really hard to get this point.
You know, it is part of the business but being able to meet all these guys felt like family for sure. The long line of players and team staff at Feduccia’s locker made clear he would be missed by everyone there including All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero who said later that it was tough losing him.
Feduccia acknowledged the feeling is mutual saying I have met some lifelong friends brothers for life.
They helped me a lot on the field and off forever will be grateful for them too. He mentioned being able to meet all these guys involved with coaching staff felt good after leaving Tampa Bay organization behind him.
A Trade That Makes Sense For Tampa Bay
Feduccia acknowledged going back to the Dodgers was more comforting than going to another new team like a fresh start last year in Chicago. Knowing what they preach is kind of instilled in me throughout minor leagues so it felt good being able to go back.
Last year coming into a new org was a lot to get comfortable with everyone and system there but familiar faces are nice indeed. Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays appreciated what they got from Feduccia over sixty games this season hitting .234 with two homers 12 RBIs and a .646 OPS.
“They’re always difficult (conversations), because we’re here because of our players,” manager Kevin Cash explained. That tandem between him and Nick Fortes has put out really good record in the American League over sixty games this season according to reports from Tampa Bay staff members involved directly.
Roster Moves Beyond The Catchers
Hicks reported for duty Tuesday’s game active alongside reliever Tyler Wells who will wear number 68. To make room they optioned reliever Michael Grove back to Durham and catcher Kenny Piper made his big-league debut Monday back to Double-A Montgomery.
Piper will stay with the Rays through Wednesday on taxi squad while Jack Suwinski was added in trade day just before deadline. Jacob Kmatz had moved into No 27 slot on mlb.com’s Rays prospect list when Feduccia left Tampa Bay team entirely behind him.
Erik Neander said Suwinski is a good depth piece given limited options because teams no longer able to trade for players on forty-man rosters.
He played parts of twenty-twenty-five with Pirates so we have someone underneath that playing really well now if circumstances are there and we wouldn’t hesitate.
To have someone like that underneath means plug him in might not miss a beat according to Rays operations president Erik Neander saying this is it right after trade deadline passed completely. We got two months hopefully more than that still to go but what you have is exactly what you have at the moment for sure.