The Rays have beforehand expressed curiosity in Mariners catching prospect Harry Ford, in response to Adam Jude of The Seattle Occasions. There isn’t a indication that Tampa’s curiosity within the teenager is present or that there are any ongoing commerce negotiations between the 2 golf equipment.
Ford, 22 in February, was Seattle’s first-round choose within the 2021 draft and is a consensus top-50 prospect within the sport. He’s managed to hit nicely at each degree of the minors he’s been uncovered to from the second he kicked off his professional profession with a .291/.400/.582 slash line in 19 rookie ball video games shortly after being drafted. He made the soar to full season ball in 2022 and located success there as nicely, slashing .274/.425/.438 on the Single-A degree in 2023 earlier than posting an almost equivalent .257/.410/.430 slash line at Excessive-A the next yr. Throughout each of his stops in A-ball, Ford floated stroll charges north of 17% whereas whereas flashing 10-to-15 homer energy. Most apparently, he confirmed off very spectacular wheels for a catcher and flashed 25-steal velocity on the basepaths.
The teenager hit his first actual roadblock in 2024 upon reaching the Double-A degree. In his age-21 marketing campaign this previous yr, Ford hit a stable however unspectacular .249/.377/.367, which was good for a 119 wRC+ on the degree. Ford’s 14.1% stroll fee remained spectacular and he reached new heights on the bases with 35 steals, however his energy output cratered as he swatted simply seven homers in 523 journeys to the plate. Even that relative down season was nonetheless noticeably above common relative to his league, nonetheless, and that feat is all of the extra spectacular given the truth that Ford was considered one of simply 5 certified hitters within the Double-A Texas League who performed the 2024 season at age-21 or youthful.
Whereas Ford’s bat is usually very nicely regarded, there are some questions on whether or not or not he’ll have the ability to stick behind the plate. Ford’s athleticism has drawn loads of reward, however he’s a nicely under common fielder behind the plate for the time being which has led some to recommend he may observe within the footsteps of Daulton Varsho, who was additionally an athletic and speedy catching prospect via the minor leagues however moved to the outfield early in his huge league profession. In the meanwhile, nonetheless, the Mariners seem poised to proceed creating his abilities behind the plate.
Given the Rays’ curiosity in Ford, it appears seemingly they too consider in his capacity to stay behind the plate. Tampa’s wants behind the plate getting into the offseason have been well-known as they not solely lacked a transparent complement to Ben Rortvedt on the huge league degree for 2025 but additionally haven’t any catching prospects of explicit word presently coming via their pipeline. A take a look at MLB.com’s High 30 Rays prospects checklist reveals simply two catchers: catching convert Dominic Keegan ranks thirteenth, whereas 19-year-old J.D. Gonzalez ranks twenty seventh regardless of having hit simply .161/.268/.198 in his first style of stateside baseball this previous season.
Swinging a deal for Ford would do little to enhance the membership’s short-term catching scenario given the truth that he’s not but reached the Triple-A degree and remains to be thought of very uncooked behind the plate defensively. With that being mentioned, the Rays already addressed their quick want at catcher by signing Danny Jansen to a one-year deal, slotting him in forward of Rortvedt within the membership’s catching tandem. That leaves the membership pretty set behind the plate for 2025, however these questions determine to come back up as soon as once more when Jansen departs without spending a dime company a yr from now. Including a prime catching prospect like Ford who’s round a yr away from the majors would make some sense for the Rays, then, permitting Jansen to function a bridge to the way forward for the place this yr.
At the same time as Ford nonetheless is sensible as a possible commerce goal for the Rays, nonetheless, it’s truthful to surprise how seemingly a deal coming collectively is even when Tampa stays within the younger catcher. The Mariners are well-known to be available in the market for infield assist this winter, having beforehand spoken to the Cubs and Phillies about Nico Hoerner and Alec Bohm. These talks haven’t appeared to realize a lot traction, which makes pivoting to a Rays infield like Yandy Díaz or Brandon Lowe at the very least theoretically possible for Seattle.
With that being mentioned, Diaz and Lowe determine to be key cogs in a Rays lineup that struggled to create runs final yr, and with no obvious want to chop payroll additional after dealing Jeffrey Springs to the A’s it’s unclear whether or not both participant would even be out there this winter. Maybe a deal could possibly be labored out involving a less-established Rays infielder like Jonathan Aranda, Curtis Mead, or Osleivis Basabe, however it’s unclear whether or not the Mariners can be focused on including a teenager of that selection or are extra targeted on established gamers with a giant league observe report.
