Some teams wait. Some teams monitor. And then there’s Orlando, who looked at the reliever market and decided to get their shopping done before anyone else figured out what was happening.
Within several hours, the Devil Rays completed two bullpen-focused trades, dramatically reshaping a weakness without touching a single draft pick. Efficient. Aggressive. And honestly? Pretty well executed.
Trade #1
Orlando Devil Rays send UTL Tony Womack and INF Webster Garrison to the Toronto Blue Jays for RP Scott Sullivan and 1B Charlie Hayes.
Scott Sullivan always felt like a reliever living on borrowed time in Toronto. His name floated through trade rumors all offseason, and while his early-season usage has been limited, his previous two years were perfectly respectable. He doesn’t project as anything more than a middle reliever—but middle relievers who are competent and cost-controlled have value, especially when acquired early.
That cost control is the real appeal here for Orlando. Sullivan isn’t flashy, but he’s usable, affordable, and immediately stabilizes innings that otherwise might’ve gone sideways.
Toronto’s side of this deal feels very on brand. Tony Womack is such a Blue Jays player it’s almost comical—speed, positional flexibility, an intriguing enough bat to convince you there’s more there. He provides depth across the infield and outfield, and Toronto could afford to move a reliever thanks to existing bullpen depth. Womack hitting free agency at year’s end is a problem for Future Toronto. Present Toronto is unbothered.
Charlie Hayes is… also included. Depth at first base, veteran presence, nothing that’s moving the needle.
This trade works cleanly for both sides. No drama. No regret.
Trade #2
Orlando Devil Rays send 1B Greg Norton to the Seattle Pilots for RP Alan Embree.
This one’s louder.
Alan Embree arrives in Orlando as a legitimate high-leverage arm, currently working as Seattle’s setup man and building on an impressive 1996 with a strong start to 1997. He’s a free agent at the end of the year, making this a textbook rental—and Orlando is clearly comfortable with that. Embree immediately slots into meaningful innings and gives the bullpen actual teeth.
Seattle, meanwhile, continues its season-long impression of a team with one eye firmly on the future. With playoff hopes looking distant, the Pilots move Embree for longer-term control in Greg Norton. Norton doesn’t bring much with the glove and isn’t a true middle-of-the-order bat, but he is intriguing against right-handed pitching. For a team desperate for offense, that’s enough to justify the gamble.
Will it work? Maybe. Will it matter this year? Probably not. But Seattle is clearly collecting “maybes” and hoping one of them turns into something more.
Taken together, these trades are a clear win for Orlando. Two playable relievers, one cost-controlled and one high-impact rental, acquired without sacrificing picks or core assets. That’s how you attack a weakness without creating another one.
Trade Grades
Orlando Devil Rays: A
Toronto Blue Jays: A
Seattle Pilots: B+
Kudos to Orlando for recognizing the market early—and exploiting it before prices inevitably rise. This is how contenders behave when they’re serious about it.