I don’t hate this trade for the Rays because both of the pitchers are good, but I don’t see them jumping at it. The Rays have quietly assembled about the best pitching staff I’ve ever seen from them, so adding two more pitching prospects is more luxury than need. The Rays pitching staff doesn’t get the national prospect love yet but it will. That’s on top of having a very good 6 man rotation, which the Rays will use at the Deadline (assuming they aren’t contenders) to further strengthen the Farm’s pitching. Meanwhile, Taylor is the Rays most complete prospect, with an above average bat that goes along with above average SS level defense. He is ticketed for starting 2B duties as early as 2026, where the Rays will have a need after they trade B.Lowe. This trade just doesn’t work very well for the Rays, and I suspect it really hurts the Cardinals, who I don’t believe have good pitching and really need Hence and Hjerpe for the future.