Rays trade Jason Adam to Padres

Tampa Bay continues selling veterans to expand the team’s depth.

The Rays are trading veteran reliever Jason Adam to the San Diego Padres in exchange for RHP Dylan Lesko, OF Homer Bush Jr. and a third prospect, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Lesko was the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft, signing for $3.9 million as an 18-year old that was in the midst of Tommy John recovery. As you might imagine, that recovery has been a long road, but the Rays are not afraid of taking young pitching projects on, especially ones with pedigree.

Baseball America ranked Lesko the No. 2 prospect in the Padres system in 2023, falling to No. 5 this season. He has a plus-plus fastball at 98 mph with carry and a legendary change, so there’s quite a bit to like in this return, and that’s just the first piece. Here’s what BA wrote about Lesko recently:

As with most Tommy John rehabbers, Lesko’s command fluctuated throughout his first year back on the mound. When he was right, he still boasts a four-seamer that touches 98 mph with carry at the top of the zone. Lesko’s dastardly low-80s, fading changeup also still grades as a plus-plus pitch and perhaps the best offering of any pitcher in the system. There’s power to his 12-to-6 curveball that can push 3,000 rpm, though it’s a pitch he will need to refine with the repetition it didn’t get as an afterthought in his prep career. Given Lesko’s work ethic and aptitude for spinning a baseball, the Padres are optimistic that his curve will continue to improve as he moves further away from Tommy John surgery.

Bush Jr. was a fourth round pick in 2023, and considered by some evaluators to be the fastest player in the draft.