Rays' Erasmo Ramirez: Returns to Rays on MiLB contract
Rotowire
Tampa Bay re-signed Ramirez to a minor-league contract Monday.
Ramirez was outrighted off the Rays' 40-man roster at the end of the 2023 regular season, but he's now back with the club on an MiLB deal for 2024. The 33-year-old right-hander owns a career 4.37 ERA in 828.1 big-league innings.
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Rays' Chris Devenski: Re-signs with Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Tampa Bay re-signed Devenski to a one-year, $1.1 million contract Tuesday with a $2 million club option for 2025, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Devenski posted an overall 4.46 ERA in 42.1 innings between the Angels and Rays in 2023, but he racked up 42 strikeouts while issuing only 11 walks. The 33-year-old right-hander owns a career 3.78 ERA in 373.1 total big-league frames and returns to Tampa Bay as a likely middle or multi-inning reliever.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Progressing with rehab
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Walls (hip) is on track to be ready for the beginning of the 2024 season, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Walls underwent surgery in late October to repair a labral tear in his right hip and relieve discomfort caused by an impingement, but he has progressed well in the early stages of his rehab program and could resume workouts sometime in February. The 27-year-old racked up 22 stolen bases over 99 games in 2023, though he finished with a rough .201/.305/.333 overall slash line.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Springs (elbow) has resumed throwing in the Tampa area, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Springs carried a lot of buzz last spring after working to a 2.46 ERA and 144:31 K:BB over 135.1 innings in 2022, but he blew out his elbow in his third start of the 2023 regular season and underwent Tommy John surgery in late April. The 31-year-old left-hander probably won't return to a major-league mound until late June or early July of 2024.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Back at full strength
Rotowire
Lowe (knee) has fully recovered and doesn't expect to be limited in his winter workouts, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe was placed on the 10-day injured list at the end of the 2023 campaign after suffering a fractured right patella, but the injury won't alter his offseason program much. The Maryland product should report to spring training with a clean bill of health.
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Rays' Andrew Lindsey: Dealt to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Marlins traded Lindsey to the Rays on Friday alongside Erick Lara and a player to be named later or cash in exchange for Vidal Brujan and Calvin Faucher (biceps).
Lindsey made just two appearances in the Florida Complex League in 2023, giving up four runs in 4.1 innings while striking out two batters and walking one. The 24-year-old righty may report to Single-A to begin the 2024 campaign.
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Rays' Erick Lara: Traded to Rays
Rotowire
The Marlins traded Lara to the Rays on Friday alongside Andrew Lindsey and a player to be named later or cash in exchange for Vidal Brujan and Calvin Faucher (biceps).
The Rays will acquire Lara as a lottery-ticket prospect after the 17-year-old infielder slashed .305/.416/.445 across 154 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Alexander (lat) signed a one-year contract with the Rays on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Alexander was claimed off waivers from the Tigers last week. He finished the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list because of a partial lat tear but struck out 44 batters and issued only five walks over 44 innings when healthy.
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Rays' Austin Shenton: Selected to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays selected Shenton to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Shenton put up an impressive .304/.423/.584 batting line with 29 home runs and 99 RBI over 134 games this past season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. The 25-year-old corner infielder looks poised to make his major-league debut in the early part of the 2024 season.
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Rays' Yoniel Curet: Gains spot on 40-man
Rotowire
The Rays selected Curet to their 40-man roster Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Curet pitched to a 2.94 ERA and 144:73 K:BB over 104 innings this past season between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green. The 21-year-old right-hander is now officially protected from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
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Rays' Cooper Criswell: Bumped off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Criswell was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Criswell struggled to a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 27:11 K:BB over 33 major-league innings in 2023. The 27-year-old right-hander no longer holds a 40-man roster spot.
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Rays' Calvin Faucher: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Faucher (biceps) was designated for assignment by the Rays on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Faucher finished the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list because of lingering biceps tendinitis and posted a rough 7.01 ERA in 25.2 innings when healthy. He is no longer part of the club's 40-man roster mix.
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Rays' Tyler Alexander: Claimed by Rays
Rotowire
The Rays claimed Alexander (lat) off waivers from the Tigers on Friday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Alexander missed much of the 2023 campaign with a tear in his left lat, although he's been throwing for a couple months and should be ready for spring training. The left-hander holds a career 4.38 ERA and 273:74 K:BB over 341.1 career major-league innings. He could operate as a swingman in Tampa Bay.
The Rays re-signed Jackson (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The deal presumably includes an invitation to spring training. Jackson hit four homers in 14 games with Triple-A Durham this season after being acquired from the Brewers but missed the last several weeks of the season with a right shoulder injury. If healthy, he gives the Rays an option to pair with Rene Pinto at catcher.
The Rays acquired Leverett and cash considerations from the Phillies on Monday in exchange for right-hander Michael Mercado.
Leverett, a 25-year-old right-handed reliever, has spent the last two seasons at Double-A Reading and turned in a 3.94 ERA and 52:27 K:BB over 64 innings in 2023. He'll continue to serve as pitching depth in the upper rungs of the minors with his new organization in 2024.
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Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Joins 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays selected Rodriguez's contract from Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Rodriguez, whom the Rays acquired from the Cubs on Aug. 1, excelled down the stretch for Triple-A Durham, pitching to a 3.06 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB in 17.2 innings over the final two months of the season. Now a member of the Rays' 40-man roster, the 27-year-old right-hander will look to secure a spot in the big club's Opening Day bullpen. Rodriguez previously made 34 relief appearances with the Cubs between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, logging a 4.88 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 31.1 frames.
