The Rays and Twins orchestrated a captivating one-for-one swap on the deadline. Minnesota traded setup man Griffin Jax to Tampa Bay for younger beginning pitcher Taj Bradley.
Jax, 30, is certainly one of a staggering 5 relievers whom the Twins traded previously two days. He adopted Jhoan Duran, Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe and Louis Varland out the door. Minnesota dismantled what had been among the finest bullpens within the sport. After all, that doesn’t even handle their greatest deal of the day.
A former third-round pick of Air Drive, Jax has developed right into a high-end reliever. This yr’s 4.50 ERA could not replicate that, however he misses bats an elite price. Jax has punched out 36.4% of opposing hitters whereas working a 19.5% swinging strike price. He ranks comfortably among the many prime 10 relievers in MLB in each classes. Jax posted very related underlying numbers throughout 72 appearances a yr in the past. Final season’s ERA mirrored that dominance, as he turned in a 2.03 mark by way of 71 innings.
Opposing hitters have a .389 common on balls in play towards Jax. That’s the best towards any pitcher in MLB with no less than 40 innings. Jax had allowed a sub-.300 BABIP in every of the earlier three seasons. This season’s mark is a transparent outlier, and groups proceed to view him as a weapon in the back of the bullpen. Jax has the power to run his fastball to 97 MPH on common, however his greatest two choices are his sweeper and changeup. It’s a plus three-pitch combine.
Jax joins Pete Fairbanks, Bryan Baker and Garrett Cleavinger in direction of the again of a revamped Tampa Bay bullpen. He’s more likely to work in a setup position in entrance of Fairbanks for the rest of the season. The Rays opted to not commerce their nearer regardless of what gave the impression to be vital curiosity. Fairbanks might be the topic of commerce chatter once more in the course of the offseason. If Tampa Bay pulls the set off on a deal at that time, Jax would have a great likelihood of entering into the ninth inning.
The Rays management Jax for 2 seasons past this one. He’s enjoying on a $2.365MM wage in his first arbitration yr. Duran stored him from accruing many saves in Minnesota that will’ve constructed his arbitration earnings. He’ll seemingly land a wage within the $4-5MM vary subsequent season and will get between $6-8MM for his ultimate run by way of the method. Tampa Bay straddled the road between shopping for and promoting this summer season, however they didn’t abandon hope of erasing what’s at the moment a three-game deficit within the Wild Card image. Even when they don’t make the playoffs, they’ll have Jax for one more couple seasons.
It’s interesting sufficient that the Rays had been keen to maneuver on from Bradley. A former prime prospect, the 6’2″ righty has held a rotation spot in Tampa Bay for a lot of the previous three seasons. He has by no means actually put all of it collectively, permitting an ERA of 4.11 or greater in every season. Dwelling runs had been the most important offender over the primary two years, however he missed bats at plus charges with league common management. It has been a unique story in 2025. Bradley’s strikeout price has dropped to a career-low 20.2% as he’s getting fewer swinging strikes. He has upped his ground-ball price and gotten the longball below management, however his 4.61 ERA throughout 21 begins is correct according to his profession mark.
Across the All-Star Break, it was reported that the Rays had been open to affords on Bradley. It appeared clear that he’d fallen out of favor once they optioned him to Triple-A final week after he gave up 4 runs with out escaping the second inning towards the White Sox. That didn’t imply they’d commerce him for no matter they might get, after all, however there was presumably a rising frustration with Bradley’s inconsistent outcomes. Tampa Bay traded a pair of beginning pitchers in Bradley and Zack Littell, however they’re giving the previous’s rotation spot to hard-throwing righty Joe Boyle. They changed the latter by buying Adrian Houser from the White Sox.
Coaxing extra out of Bradley now falls on the Twins. He figures to return to the rotation in Minnesota. He’ll slot behind Joe Ryan, Zebby Matthews and finally Pablo López within the beginning workers. Minnesota additionally landed proficient rookie right-hander Mick Abel from the Phillies within the Duran return. They’re clearly waiting for a 2026 season that could be below new possession and hoping to construct round younger beginning pitching.
Bradley could not have had sustained MLB success, however it’s straightforward to see the attraction. Controllable beginning pitching is probably the most troublesome asset to accumulate. Minnesota has Bradley below staff management for 4 seasons after this one. He has a four-pitch combine led by a 96 MPH fastball with the command to begin. If the Twins can marry this yr’s batted ball outcomes with the swing-and-miss means he has proven in prior seasons, Bradley can be a extra beneficial long-term asset than a reliever — even one nearly as good as Jax.
Espn’s Jeff Passan first reported the Rays had been buying Jax. Dan Hayes of The Athletic had Bradley’s return. Photos courtesy of Lon Howedel and Jonathan Dyer, Imagn Photos.
