Report: Giants sent Rays injured prospect in Moore deal
The Tampa Bay Rays believe they may have received damaged goods in the Matt Moore trade.
Shortstop prospect Lucius Fox, who was part of the package the San Francisco Giants sent to Tampa Bay in exchange for the left-hander ahead of Monday's deadline, suffered a bruised foot after fouling a pitch off it during a game before the trade. However, he played through the injury for a week, something that apparently wasn't disclosed to the Rays. As a result, the Rays are reportedly considering asking the Giants for additional compensation, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
While Fox's injury is not believed to be serious, it will apparently cost him four-to-six weeks of game action, effectively ending his season since the minor leagues finish in early September.
"Fox had been playing every day, but I'll just have to wait to talk with them until I can comment,'' Giants general manager Bobby Evans told the San Jose Mercury News on Friday, according to Topkin. Evans added that he'll likely discuss the matter with the Rays on Saturday.
The Rays' issue with Fox and the Giants comes one day after reports surfaced that Major League Baseball is investigating the San Diego Padres for allegedly not revealing all relevant medical information about two pitchers in a pair of July trades. Pitcher Colin Rea was returned to San Diego on Aug. 1 after spraining his elbow in his lone start with the Miami Marlins.
Report: Padres expect to be cleared in trade investigations
Fox, a native of the Bahamas, was given a $6-million bonus when the Giants signed him in July 2015. The 19-year-old, now ranked as the Rays' No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, was hitting .207/.305/.277 in 75 games with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets this season. The Rays do not plan on returning him to San Francisco, Topkin noted.
Tampa Bay also acquired shortstop Matt Duffy and minor-league pitcher Michael Santos - both of whom were injured when dealt and remain on the disabled list - in exchange for Moore.