The Rays introduced Sunday that they’ve positioned left-hander Jeffrey Springs on the 15-day injured record because of what the membership described as left elbow fatigue, per ESPN. Left-hander Tyler Alexander was recalled to the massive league roster in a corresponding transfer.
Springs, 32 on September 20, 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 in July this 12 months. It was unlucky timing for the Rays, as Springs went beneath 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 cut up between the rotation and bullpen. Springs has made seven begins since coming back from the IL and, whereas he hasn’t fairly reached that stage of dominance, he’s definitely held his personal with a 3.27 ERA and a 4.00 FIP to go together with a robust 26.1% strikeout fee.
It’s not but clear if this journey to the IL spells the tip of Springs’s 2024 season. For his half, Springs informed reporters, together with these at MLB.com, that his hope is to make two extra begins this season and that his elbow was simply “somewhat extra sore than regular,” which supervisor Kevin Cash advised was most likely fatigue that needs to be anticipated coming off surgical procedure.
Nonetheless, given the truth that he’s affected by a difficulty relating to his elbow simply over a month after coming 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 spite of everything, the 70-72 Rays offered considerably aggressively on the commerce deadline as they fell out of playoff competition and pivoted in the direction of prioritizing subsequent season and past. Even after dealing away key items equivalent to third baseman Isaac Paredes and outfielder Randy Arozarena in July, the Rays seem like in fairly good condition to contend in 2025.
An enormous cause 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 from an inner brace process on his elbow in a bullpen position in August, additionally figures to be thought of for a return to a rotation position 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 season, and it’s a minimum of possible that the membership might look to deal one other piece equivalent to Littell from their rotation combine over the winter so as to assist tackle 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 properly of pitching expertise so as to restock the lineup or just hope {that a} full season from prime 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 one of the best place to be wholesome and efficient headed into subsequent 12 months is bound 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 a lot better within the bullpen than as a starter, as he’s struck out a good 21.1% of opponents whereas pitching in reduction in opposition to a stroll fee of simply 4.7%. Alexander is tentatively anticipated to pitch bulk innings for the membership Monday night time in a begin that was beforehand slated to go to Springs.
