Rays MLB Trade Deadline Moves Are Already Paying Off in a Big Way

The Tampa Bay Rays' hot streak is no accident. 

After a slow start to the second half of the season following the All-Star Break, Erik Neander in the race run office made some successful strategic trades to instantly bolster the Major League roster. 

And it's clear that most of them are already paying off. 

The biggest move thus far is acquiring catcher Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins. He has instantly helped improve the middle of the order for the Rays and added much-needed power to the lineup. 

Since arriving at Tampa Bay, Hicks has a 1.091 OPS and has only struck out one time across 26 at-bats. In just eight games played for the AL East division leaders, he has already acquired almost a half (0.4 WAR) to his season total. 

In what was seen as maybe a possible concern for adding an unfamiliar catcher in the middle of the season, the pitching staff has done just fine with him behind the plate. In fact, on Tuesday night, he caught a complete game from All-Star Nick Martinez, only the second of the Rays' veteran pitcher's career. 

The instant improvement to the roster following Hicks has been contagious, and it is allowing the Rays offense to play more freely, which has helped them into a nine-game winning streak. 

He's also not the only one who is showing progress since being acquired in the trade, as pitcher Freddy Peralta had a much better second start in a Tampa Bay uniform. 

After a dreadful start in his Rays debut at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, where he allowed seven earned runs before escaping the fourth inning, he bounced back nicely on Monday in a victory against the Athletics. He picked up a quality start, going six innings and only allowing three earned runs. Peralta picked up five strikeouts and is well on his way to hopefully being seen as a consistent pitcher who can help in the postseason for Kevin Cash and his crew. 

Add in a successful first 3 appearances from big-time reliever Tyler Wells, who was dealt to Tampa Bay from the Baltimore Orioles, and the trade deadline is already looking like a major success for Erik Neander. 

Once a team is able to get some of their other major players back from injury, such as Shane McClanahan and Griffin Jax, the team could possibly put away the division before September even arrives.