The Rays introduced this morning that they’ve positioned left-hander Jeffrey Springs on the 15-day injured listing as a result of what the membership described as left elbow fatigue. Left-hander Tyler Alexander was recalled to the large league roster in a corresponding transfer.
Springs, 32 later this month, underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in April of 2023 and returned to the mound within the majors for the primary time on the day of the commerce deadline again in July earlier this 12 months. It was unlucky timing for the Rays, as Springs went underneath the knife simply three begins right into a four-year extension the membership inked him to previous to the 2023 season on the heels of a 2022 marketing campaign the place he posted a 2.35 ERA and three.04 FIP in 135 1/3 innings of labor break up between the rotation and bullpen. Springs has made seven begins since getting back from the IL earlier this 12 months and, whereas he hasn’t fairly reached that degree of dominance, he’s actually held his personal with a 3.27 ERA and a 4.00 FIP to go together with a powerful 26.1% strikeout charge.
It’s not but clear whether or not or not as we speak’s journey to the IL spells the tip of Springs’s 2024 season. For his half, Springs informed reporters (together with these at MLB.com) as we speak that his hope is to make two extra begins this season and that his elbow was simply “a bit of extra sore than regular,” which supervisor Kevin Money steered was most likely fatigue that must be anticipated coming off surgical procedure. Nonetheless, given the truth that he’s affected by a difficulty concerning his elbow simply over a month after getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure, it will hardly be a shock if the Rays merely determined to play it secure with him for the rest of the season. In any case, the 70-72 Rays offered considerably aggressively on the commerce deadline as they fell out of playoff competition and pivoted in direction of prioritizing subsequent season and past. Even after dealing away key items similar to third baseman Isaac Paredes and outfielder Randy Arozarena again in July, the Rays look like in fairly good condition to contend in 2025.
A giant motive for that optimism is the anticipated return of a number of key pitchers to full-time rotation duties subsequent 12 months. Ace lefty Shane McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgical procedure simply over a 12 months in the past and resumed throwing in late July, placing him on observe to be a part of the membership’s Opening Day rotation subsequent 12 months. Proper-hander Drew Rasmussen, who returned final month from an inside brace process on his elbow in a bullpen function, additionally figures to be thought-about for a return to a rotation function subsequent 12 months. Springs, too, figures to be a part of that dialog, leaving the Rays deep in rotation choices as that trio joins Shane Baz, Ryan Pepiot, Taj Bradley, and Zack Littell in competition for beginning jobs headed into 2025.
That deep group of rotation choices led the Rays to deal each Aaron Civale and Zach Eflin from their rotation combine this summer time, and it’s a minimum of possible that the membership may look to deal one other piece similar to Littell from their rotation combine over the winter with a view to assist deal with an offense that has under-performed with a collective wRC+ of simply 96 this 12 months. Whether or not the Rays look to deal from their deep effectively of pitching expertise with a view to restock the lineup or just hope {that a} full season from high prospect Junior Caminero and stronger performances from gamers like Christopher Morel, Josh Lowe, Dylan Carlson, and Jose Siri can increase the membership’s offense internally, Springs figures to issue prominently into the membership’s rotation plans subsequent 12 months, and placing him in the perfect place to be wholesome and efficient headed into subsequent 12 months is certain to be Tampa’s precedence because the season winds down.
Taking Springs’s spot on the roster is Alexander, who spent the primary 5 seasons of his profession with the Tigers earlier than becoming a member of the Rays this 12 months. In his first season with Tampa, the lefty has swung between the bullpen and the rotation with lackluster outcomes, posting a 5.66 ERA and 5.52 FIP in 89 frames. With that being stated, his peripherals have been significantly better within the bullpen than as a starter, as he’s struck out a decent 21.1% of opponents whereas pitching in aid towards a stroll charge of simply 4.7%. Alexander is tentatively anticipated to pitch bulk innings for the membership tomorrow night time in a begin that was beforehand slated to go to Springs.
