MARCH 23, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
Rays' Taylor Walls sides with DeSantis on transgender athlete issue PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Rays infielder Taylor Walls said he wasn’t looking to become the center of a political controversy on social media —...
Southpaw Raley a 'perfect fit' in Rays' bullpen NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Heading into free agency at the end of last season, left-handed reliever Brooks Raley figured the Rays were the last tea...
MARCH 23, 2022 • MLB.COM
Shane throws gas; Patiño feels strong; BP catcher honored NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Shane McClanahan will need a few more outings to build up his pitch count for the regular season. But the Rays left-ha...
MARCH 23, 2022 • MLB.COM
Braves 7, Rays 7
MARCH 23, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tommy Romero - Struck by liner Wednesday Romero was removed from his relief appearance in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta due to a right tricep contusion, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Romero picked up the injury when he was struck in his pitching arm by a line drive. The 24-year-old appeared to be fine when he was checked out by the Rays' training staff, so his removal from the contest may have been precautionary more than anything else. Assuming the bruise doesn't provide too much pain in his subsequent throwing sessions, Romero should be ready to make regular starts for Triple-A Durham when the affiliate begins its season April 5.
MARCH 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Luis Patiño - Completes bullpen session Patino (shoulder) threw an 18-to-20 pitch bullpen session Wednesday with no issues, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Patino was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday with some shoulder soreness, but his quick return to the mound indicates it's not a serious concern. The 22-year-old is now scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday as he moves toward a return to game action.
MARCH 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Brett Phillips - Signs deal without arbiter Phillips and the Rays agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.4 million contract Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact The agreement means the sides won't have to square off in front of an arbiter. Phillips' 13 homers and 14 steals in 292 plate appearances last season hint at a decent amount of fantasy upside if he finds himself in the lineup more regularly this season, but his 38.7 percent strikeout rate means that's unlikely to happen.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jalen Beeks - Agrees to deal for 2022 Beeks and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $750,000 contract to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Beeks secured a contract for 2022 one day after making his Grapefruit League debut in what marked his first game action since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2020. The 28-year-old lefty has mostly worked as a multi-inning reliever or primary pitcher out of the bullpen over his three active seasons in Tampa Bay, and he'll likely fill a similar role when he's with the big club during the upcoming campaign. Beeks has two minor-league options remaining, so the Rays may be inclined to have him shake off the rust at Triple-A Durham to begin the season following a year-and-a-half-long layoff from game action.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Yandy Díaz - Reaches deal without arbiter Diaz and the Rays avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to terms on a one-year, $2.8 million deal, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Diaz gets a nice raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. While the 30-year-old still hasn't developed much power, hitting a modest 13 homers last season, his control of the zone helped him to a 111 wRC+, the product of a .256/.354/.387 slash line.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jeffrey Springs - On books for '22 season Springs (knee) and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $947,500 contract to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Before he tore the ACL in his right knee July 31 and required season-ending surgery, Springs proved to be a weapon out of the bullpen for the Rays. Over his 44.2 innings, Springs was prone to the long ball (nine home runs allowed) but otherwise dominated hitters to the tune of a 3.43 ERA and 63:14 K:BB. He picked up 10 holds and two saves along the way, but the Rays' wealth of quality relievers and manager Kevin Cash's preference to mix and match in the ninth inning will make it tough to extract consistent value from Springs or any of the team's other bullpen options. Springs threw a live batting practice session Monday and plans to test out his surgically repaired knee next week by jumping off the mound and fielding bunts, but his availability for Opening Day is in flux at the moment.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nick Anderson - Reaches one-year deal Anderson (elbow) and the Rays agreed to terms on a one-year, $845,000 deal Tuesday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Impact The agreement means the two signs won't have to go through arbitration. Anderson will miss an extended portion of the upcoming season after undergoing elbow surgery in October.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Francisco Mejía - Comes to terms on 2022 deal Mejia and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $1.455 million contract to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Now that he's on the books for 2022, Mejia should be locked in to the smaller portion of a timeshare at catcher with Mike Zunino. Last season, the role gave Mejia a modicum of value in AL-only formats and in deeper mixed leagues that started two catchers. He logged 277 plate appearances -- a high total for a nominal No. 2 catcher -- and finished with a palatable .260 average to go with six home runs, 35 RBI and 31 runs.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
John Romano: For Ryan Yarbrough, it's a fine line between being hard to hit and being hit hard PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The hard throwers occasionally get away with mistakes. Miss your spot at 97 mph, and it’s a little different than, sa...
MARCH 22, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Manuel Margot - Making $5.6 million Margot and the Rays avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.6 million contract Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Impact Margot will get a raise of over $2 million heading into his final year of team control. While they 27-year-old has yet to post a league average batting line, he's a strong defender and has been close enough to average at the plate over the last two seasons, setting a career high with a 94 wRC+ in 2020 and breaking that with a mark of 95 last season.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Red Sox 4, Rays 2
MARCH 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan Yarbrough - Signs deal before arbitration Yarbrough and the Rays avoided arbitration Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $3.85 million deal, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Yarbrough gets a raise of over $1.5 million despite the fact that he's coming off the worst season of his career. In 155 innings, he struck out a career-low 17.9 percent of opposing batters and generated groundballs at a career-low 35.8 percent clip, leading to a career-high 5.11 ERA.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Andrew Kittredge - Signs one-year deal Kittredge and the Rays avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.85 million deal, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Impact The Rays' creative bullpen usage has the (presumably intended) side effect of suppressing salaries in arbitration, as saves still factor heavily in that system despite teams increasingly turning to more flexible setups for the late innings. Kittredge had an excellent year last year and was the Rays' top reliever, posting a 1.88 ERA in 71.2 innings, but he won't get a huge raise, as he only saved eight games.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays settle with all 13 arbitration-eligible players Notes | Outfielder Manuel Margot gets $5.6 million to lead the list as the Rays avoid hearings that would have been held during the season.
MARCH 22, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Austin Meadows - Signs for $4 million Meadows and the Rays avoided arbitration with a one-year, $4 million deal Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Impact Meadows will get a big raise in his first year of arbitration. That follows a season in which he hit 27 homeres while slashing .234/.315/.458.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Patiño (tightness) scratched from spring debut PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Over the past few days, the Rays received two pieces of news that reinforced the logic behind their decision to ease...
MARCH 22, 2022 • MLB.COM
Yonny Chirinos - Avoids arbiter Chirinos (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.175 million deal with the Rays on Tuesday, avoiding arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Impact Chirinos will get a raise in his first season of arbitration despite the fact that Tommy John surgery prevented him from pitching at any point last season. He underwent another procedure to address a fractured elbow in September, so he'll miss an extended period again this season.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Wisler - Avoids arbitration Wisler avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.16 million contract with the Rays, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Impact After posting mediocre numbers as a starter early in his career, Wisler has emerged as a reliable reliever in recent seasons. Over the last two years, he's struck out 32.1 percent of opposing batters en route to a 2.80 ERA. That could make him a closer candidate on many teams, but the Rays' deep and flexible bullpen makes him tough to project for more than a handful of saves.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Tyler Glasnow - Steers clear of arbitration Glasnow and the Rays agreed Tuesday on a one-year, $5.1 million contract to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Impact Though he's expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2022 season, Glasnow will get a $1.1 million pay increase after he had performed at a Cy Young-worthy level (2.66 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 123:27 K:BB over 88 innings) through 14 starts in 2021 before he eventually required Tommy John surgery for his right elbow. Glasnow, who also underwent surgery last week to remove loose bodies from his right ankle, is expected to rest for the next 2-to-3 weeks before restarting his throwing program. Before having his ankle scoped, Glasnow had been playing catch off flat ground from about 75 feet three times a week, according to Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network.
MARCH 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
