ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays found the versatile, defensive-minded infielder they had been looking for on Monday, acquiring slick-fielding Ben Williamson from the Mariners in their third three-team trade of the offseason.
The Mariners got the deal’s biggest star in Brendan Donovan, and the rebuilding Cardinals got a haul of young talent and two picks in this year’s MLB Draft. Meanwhile, the Rays got a strong defensive infielder in the 25-year-old Williamson while parting with outfield prospect Colton Ledbetter and the No. 72 overall Draft pick.
To make room on their 40-man roster for Williamson, the Rays designated left-hander Ken Waldichuk for assignment.
TRADE DETAILS
Rays get: INF Ben Williamson (from Mariners)
Mariners get: INF/OF Brendan Donovan (from Cardinals)
Cardinals get: RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, CF Tai Peete and Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick (from Mariners); OF Colton Ledbetter and Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick (from Rays)
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said the Rays were in need of a right-handed-hitting infielder who could move around the infield, someone who could fill a role that manager Kevin Cash likes to have on his roster. Specifically, they wanted a high-quality defender who can handle shortstop, second and third base.
“Ben has been on our list for some time, and we finally had the chance to get him in,” Neander said Monday night. “High-contact offensive profile with exceptional defense. Has spent most of his time at third base, but [he has] infielder actions -- and played at such a high level -- that we think it's transferable to second and short.
“He's got to come into camp and do his part, but profile-wise, fills a need or something we were looking to address. Excited about him being in the mix for that opportunity and the chance to grow with him over the years ahead, along with some of our other players.”
The Rays have projected starters in place at those three spots: All-Star Junior Caminero at third base, Gold Glove Award finalist Taylor Walls at shortstop and recently acquired Gavin Lux at second. But Caminero is bound to take the occasional day off, even if it’s as a DH, and Williamson pairs well with the switch-hitting Walls and the left-handed-hitting Lux.
In other words, with the way the Rays tend to use their entire roster, it’s possible even a “backup” infielder like Williamson could wind up having 400 plate appearances or more. That makes it an important role.
“That type of versatility, he’s made for that,” Neander said. “Want to give him the opportunity to show it. … I think Ben’s someone that can help us win a lot of games in different ways.”
Drafted by the Mariners in 2023 out of the College of William & Mary, Williamson debuted for Seattle last April and played 85 games at third base before he was optioned to Triple-A on July 31. Williamson provided excellent defense at the hot corner, but he hit just .253 with a .294 on-base percentage and .310 slugging percentage.
Williamson hit one home run and 13 doubles and drove in 21 runs while stealing five bases. He was displaced at third base by Trade Deadline acquisition Eugenio Suárez, and the Mariners’ acquisition of Donovan combined with the presence of top prospect Colt Emerson likely made Williamson expendable.
He only played parts of three seasons in the Minors, but he slashed .291/.377/.415 with nine homers and 30 steals in 188 games in Seattle’s system. Over 52 Triple-A games to finish last season, Williamson produced a .314/.392/.462 slash line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He mostly played third base in the Minors, but he has also seen limited action at shortstop and second base.
Neander said Williamson was “toward the top of our list of potential options” for the role they had in mind, but they had to give the Cardinals some valuable future assets to make it happen.
Ledbetter finished last season as the Rays’ No. 24 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. A second-round pick in the 2023 Draft, Ledbetter spent all last season with Double-A Montgomery. He produced a .265/.337/.378 slash line with seven homers and 37 steals in 123 games for the Biscuits.
The Rays also dealt away the No. 72 pick in this year’s Draft, a Competitive Balance Round B selection. They still have a Competitive Balance Round A pick, No. 33 overall, which they acquired from the Orioles in the trade for Shane Baz, in addition to the second overall selection.
“The pick is something we appreciate quite a bit and value quite a bit. It's nameless right now; it’ll have one this summer,” Neander said. “Colton’s someone that we appreciate, and his development has come along nicely. Just kind of felt like this was a good baseball deal that helped us get a player we really like, with a potential opportunity for him to impact us as soon as this year.”