OnlyBucs

Bucs have traded Robert Stephenson to Tampa for Alika Williams a shortstop who was a number one draft pick in 2020.

4F4342191019111C1B041E290 wrote: Bucs have traded Robert Stephenson to Tampa for Alika Williams a shortstop who was a number one draft pick in 2020.
With Cruz hopefully returning late August and Mercano playing well at SS and what the bucs have in the minors, why in the hell do they did another SS?

1826232B3820202B0B2E392A7D4F0 wrote: Bucs have traded Robert Stephenson to Tampa for Alika Williams a shortstop who was a number one draft pick in 2020.
With Cruz hopefully returning late August and Mercano playing well at SS and what the bucs have in the minors, why in the hell do they did another SS?




Stephenson was on his way out so GMBC grabbed a shortstop to throw against the wall and see if he sticks. ;D

070B0A5158515954534C56610 wrote: Bucs have traded Robert Stephenson to Tampa for Alika Williams a shortstop who was a number one draft pick in 2020.


he is probably better than Owings now. If he is a good shortstop he can play other positions too. Looks like his bat is the big question but then that is the case with most of the Bucs.

Addition by subtraction. Wish the guy well. Wish our new guy a lot better.

Mathias is returning to fill the roster spot. Now both Owings and Mathias are on the MLB roster. I don’t like that at all.

424E4F141D141C11160913240 wrote: Mathias is returning to fill the roster spot. Now both Owings and Mathias are on the MLB roster. I don’t like that at all.


My optimism has lessened somewhat.

I'm super excited about Mathias rejoining the team. Now there's another guy for the infield merry-go-round.

My first thought was how good Tampa is at identifying amateur talent and then developing those players when in their system. To give up a high draft choice who was just picked a few years ago would indicate that he's not what they thought they were getting and/or he's not developing as he should. I hope I'm wrong.

257365717E64747F726557707A767E7B3974170 wrote: My first thought was how good Tampa is at identifying amateur talent and then developing those players when in their system.  To give up a high draft choice who was just picked a few years ago would indicate that he's not what they thought they were getting and/or he's not developing as he should.  I hope I'm wrong.
That's probably a fair assessment. If Tampa had high hopes for Williams they would not have traded him for Stephenson. Stephenson is a 30 year old journeyman who has spent his career alternating between MLB and the minors. This is a minor trade in which neither team is getting much.