The Rays have been busy tweaking their roster in recent weeks, and Tampa’s added more prospects after a trade of one of their relievers. Jason Adam is headed to the Padres thanks to a four-player trade, one that saw Dylan Lesko and Homer Bush Jr. go to Tampa Bay.

The Padres’ Return

• RP Jason Adam (2.49 ERA, 50 K over 47 IP)

Ex-Rays reliever Jason Adam’s been one of the game’s more effective setup men in the game over the last three seasons. From 2022-24, Adam recorded a strong 170 ERA+, well above the league average, with a 0.88 WHIP and 3.37 ERA. Adam also picked up 24 saves in the span, including four this season.

Adam’s run with the Rays marked the most success he’s ever had as a pro pitcher. Originally drafted by the Royals in the fifth round in 2010, Adam struggled to find success as a starting pitcher prospect before a move to the bullpen. The 32-year-old had stints with Kansas City, Toronto, and Chicago (NL) from 2018-21.

Adam is what one would expect from a Rays reliever; an analytical darling thanks to his mid-90s, high-carry fastball (18.4″ of IVB), as well as above-average movement on his changeup, sweeper, and slider, per Statcast. His changeup is arguably Adam’s best pitch. It’s a stirring pitch that sits in the high 80s with late fade and arm-side run.

Opposing batters are hitting .164 with a 41.4% Whiff% rate on the changeup this season.

Adam wasn’t the Rays’ closer, although he did spend some time filling in for Pete Fairbanks when the latter was on the IL in 2023-24. He’s under team control for two more seasons after the 2024 campaign.

The Rays’ Return

• SP Dylan Lesko (6.46 ERA, 79 K over 69.2 IP (A+))
• OF Homer Bush Jr. (.272/.362/.347, four HR and 14 XBH over 86 G (A+))
• C J.D. Gonzalez (.205/.322/.230, no HR and four XBH over 48 G (A))

The most notable name involved in the haul headed to Tampa is Dylan Lesko. Lesko was arguably the best pitcher available in the 2022 MLB Draft but slipped to #15 after Tommy John surgery in his draft year. He didn’t make his pro debut until 2023.

Lesko had an impressive, yet brief debut in 2023, as he struck out 52 over 33 frames. He’s continued to strike out batters at will, mainly thanks to his two best pitches.

The 20-year-old can pump in a mid-90s fastball with life, coupled with a plus-plus mid-80s changeup that’s devastating both in and out of the zone. It has incredible fading action.

The hope would be that Lesko’s walk problems would go away as he gets more comfortable and repeat his mechanics. His issue, though, is that Lesko continued to walk hitters at a steady pace. Lesko walked 52 batters over his first 69.2 IP of 2024, including 11 over 14 July innings.

San Diego surrendered two other notable prospects in Homer Bush Jr. (#8 in San Diego’s system per MLB.com) and J.D. Gonzalez (#12).

Homer Bush Jr. tag-teamed with now-Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson at Grand Canyon University and hit .370 (.978 OPS) in his junior season in 2023. That pushed him to be a fourth-round selection by the Padres. There are limitations to his game. Much like his father, Homer Bush, he doesn’t have average power but is very fast. Bush Jr. netted 43 stolen bases with Fort Wayne (A+) this season.

Catcher J.D. Gonzalez hasn’t hit much as a pro but was a 2023 fourth-round pick by the Padres. Scouts reportedly like his power potential and plus arm from behind the plate.

Analysis

The Padres are no strangers to going big to improve their roster. Just over the last four months, the Padres added 2024 All-Star Luis Arraez and Dylan Cease in trades and now, Jason Adam is part of the mix thanks to the trade.

Adam joins a San Diego bullpen that entered play on the 28th with the 21st-best ERA (4.19) but the ninth-best SIERA (3.58). It’s been a complicated year for the Padres bullpen, as Robert Suarez has thrived as the team’s closer. Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada have been electric. However, offseason pickup Enyel De Los Santos surrendered 11 home runs over his first 38.1 IP as a Padre.

The 32-year-old can comfortably slot in as a compliment to lefty Yuki Matsui as a matchup option late in games. And, his arsenal offers a difference compared to Estrada and Suarez, both of whom throw harder and have different arsenals.

Tampa, meanwhile, received a haul of high-upside prospects. Lesko has #1 or #2 starter upside but the question becomes whether he can hold up to reach it. There is risk with a 20-year-old with great stuff, yet an inconsistent track record and injury history.

Interestingly, the Padres gave him up to get a reliever, albeit a controllable one. But, the aforementioned risk is likely why San Diego was more willing to trade Lesko, compared to Robby Snelling and Adam Mazur, both of whom are inching closer to regular MLB pitchers.