TAMPA BAY RAYS NEWS

Austin Meadows - Dealing with oblique issue Manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Meadows is dealing with a "minor" oblique issue, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The outfielder is expected to return to the Rays...

Impact The injury has kept Meadows out of action since Sunday, but it doesn't appear to be anything significant enough to jeopardize his availability for Opening Day. Meadows is coming off a strong 2021 season in which hit 27 homers while producing a career-high 106 RBI and drawing 59 walks.

MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Colin Poche - Making third spring appearance Poche is scheduled to appear in relief of starter Josh Fleming in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Healthy again after missing the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June 2020, Poche is vying for a spot in the Rays' Opening Day bullpen. He's looked sharp in his first two Grapefruit League appearances to date, striking out two over two scoreless frames while recording a save.

MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Bard - Making spring debut Bard (hip) is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League appearance Wednesday against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Bard missed the entire 2021 season after sustaining a hip injury last spring that required surgery, but he looks to be back to full strength after he came to terms with the Rays last week on a minor-league deal. Though he'll be given the chance to compete for a spot in the Rays' Opening Day bullpen over the final days of camp, Bard is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Durham.

MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rays 4, Twins 2

MARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No need to rush, Kevin Kiermaier says he'll be fine by opening day Nagging injuries have limited him to a handful of at-bats, but the Rays centerfielder says he’s not concerned about his lack of action.

MARCH 29, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Cody Reed - Won't make Opening Day roster The Rays reassigned Reed to minor-league camp Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact He was one of three relievers sent packing as the Rays reduced their group at big-league camp to 38 players. Reed, who made 12 appearances with the big club in 2021, is expected to see the bulk of his action at Triple-A Durham during the upcoming season now that he no longer possesses a spot on the 40-man roster.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dusten Knight - Moved to MiLB camp The Rays reassigned Knight to minor-league camp Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Knight was one of three pitchers cut Tuesday as the Rays reduced their group at big-league spring training to 38 players. The 31-year-old right-hander joined the Rays as a non-roster invitee at spring training after he made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 2021. He appeared in seven games for Baltimore and gave up nine earned runs on 11 hits and five walks over 8.2 innings.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

From minors to opening-day starter in 12 months for Rays' Shane McClanahan John Romano | Last season’s rookie sensation will officially begin the 2022 season as Tampa Bay’s ace.

MARCH 29, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM

Jim Henneman: For Orioles, Reaching Modest Goal Against Rays Would Be A Good Start - PressBox If the Orioles are going to show any progress this season, Jim Henneman says it will have to start with an improvement in their 1-18 record...

MARCH 29, 2022 • PRESSBOXONLINE.COM

Andrew Kittredge - Clear path to saves Kittredge has a clear path to saves with the news that Pete Fairbanks (lat) is facing a multi-month absence.

Impact One of the best relievers in baseball, Kittredge posted a 1.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 22.0 K-BB% and a 53.5 GB% in 71.2 innings last season. He also had nine wins and eight saves. The Rays typically give relievers scheduled days off, but when he is available, Kittredge will be used in the late innings. He may not push for 30 saves, but he could get to 30 wins plus saves if he stays healthy.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Shane McClanahan earns first career Opening Day start PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Left-hander Shane McClanahan will be the Rays’ Opening Day starter, manager Kevin Cash announced Tuesday morning....

MARCH 29, 2022 • MLB.COM

Shane McClanahan - Draws Opening Day assignment Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McClanahan will start the team's Opening Day game April 8 versus Baltimore, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact With Tyler Glasnow (elbow) expected to miss most of the upcoming season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, McClanahan entered spring training as the most logical choice to get the ball for the Rays on Opening Day. The 2018 first-round pick is coming off a brilliant rookie campaign in which he submitted a 3.43 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 123.1 innings while posting a 27.3 percent strikeout rate and limiting opposing hitters to a .251 average. Since he won't turn 25 years old until April, the Rays are likely to manage his workload carefully in 2022, so he can't reliably be counted on to clear much more than 150 innings.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Kiermaier - Expects to be ready for opener Kiermaier (groin) is scheduled to take some swings Tuesday and said he expects to be ready to go for Opening Day, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The perennially banged-up Kiermaier is already hurting during spring training, as he's battled both neck and upper-back stiffness and most recently left groin soreness. Though the injuries have set him back in getting in his usual slate of at-bats during the spring, the veteran outfielder doesn't expect to require a trip to the injured list to begin the season. Ideally, he would return to action before the Rays' Grapefruit League and exhibition schedule comes to an end to assuage any concerns about his availability for Opening Day.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Fairbanks sidelined with lat injury; timetable TBD PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Rays could be without high-leverage reliever Pete Fairbanks for a significant chunk of the season’s first half d...

MARCH 29, 2022 • MLB.COM

This year's [fill in the blank]: A quest to uncover 2022's Cedric Mullins, Shane McClanahan and more Looking for this year's Cedric Mullins, Shane McClanahan, Anthony Volpe and more breakouts? Michael Waterloo has your candidates!

MARCH 29, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

MLB injury mailbag No. 3: Jacob deGrom is battling history, the good news for Shane Baz and more Virginia Zakas of Inside Injuries explains the health issues currently impacting Jacob deGrom, Chris Sale, Shane Baz and more.

MARCH 29, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Twins add veteran Chris Archer as potential rotation boost

Right-hander Chris Archer and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract

MARCH 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pete Fairbanks - Facing lengthy absence Fairbanks (lat) is expected to be shut down from throwing for the next six weeks after undergoing an MRI on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact This isn't what the Rays wanted to hear after Fairbanks left Sunday's exhibition with lat tightness. He tossed five pitches before exiting in discomfort. Topkin notes that it may be reasonable to expect midseason as a target for the right-hander's return, as he'll likely need ample time to build back up before returning to game action. While Fairbanks recovers, J.P. Feyereisen should be next in line for an increase in high-leverage opportunities, and he could even get the occasional save chance if Andrew Kittredge needs a night off.

MARCH 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

David Hess - Opening season in minors The Rays reassigned Hess to their minor-league camp Monday.

Impact Before re-signing with the Rays on a minor-league deal in November, Hess revealed that he underwent chemotherapy earlier in the offseason to address a cancerous tumor in his chest. Fortunately, Hess received full medical clearance to resume his career in January and hasn't faced any restrictions upon reporting to spring training. He'll likely open the season at Triple-A Durham, but it's unclear if the Rays plan on having Hess serve as a starter or reliever.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

David McKay - Heads to MiLB camp The Rays reassigned McKay to their minor-league camp Monday.

Impact McKay is expected to begin the season as a member of the Triple-A Durham bullpen. He previously made 26 relief appearances at the big-league level between stops with the Mariners and Tigers across the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, logging a 6.08 ERA.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Aaron Slegers - Cut from big-league camp The Rays reassigned Slegers to minor-league camp Monday.

Impact Slegers was one of 11 players optioned or reassigned Monday as the Rays pare down their big-league camp group ahead of Opening Day. Before inking a two-year, minor-league deal with Tampa Bay last August, the 29-year-old made 29 relief appearances for the Angels in 2021. Over 31 innings at the big-league level, he posted a 6.97 ERA and 1.87 WHIP.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tommy Romero - Optioned to Triple-A Romero (triceps) was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Romero worked with the major-league club early in spring training but sustained a right tricep contusion when he was struck by a comebacker during his lone Grapefruit League appearance. He'll report to Triple-A Durham to begin the year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him available once the regular season gets underway.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Harold Ramirez - Could platoon at DH Tampa Bay plans to use Ramirez as the team's right-handed DH, and occasional outfielder, against lefty pitchers, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Ramirez hit .268 with seven home runs last season, but fared better against left-handed batters. He hit .288 with a .774 OPS against lefties, compared to .258 with a .665 OPS against righties. Ramirez was 37th in the majors last year with an average exit velocity of 91.3 mph, but lacked plate discipline (3.9 BB%, 45.2 O-swing%). Tampa Bay must be banking that he can make better contact this season in a platoon role.

MARCH 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Fairbanks exits after 5 pitches with lat tightness PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Reliever Pete Fairbanks fired a pitch high above the strike zone to the Braves' Brock Holt, rotated his right should...

MARCH 27, 2022 • MLB.COM

Harold Ramirez looks like a good fit for Rays PORT CHARLOTTE — Harold Ramirez joined the Rays’ squad Sunday morning definitely looking the part.

MARCH 27, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM