The Rays introduced a sequence of roster strikes at the moment, together with the information that left-hander Colin Poche was positioned on the 15-day injured listing because of irritation in his throwing shoulder. Proper-hander Erasmo Ramirez was additionally designated for task, and right-handers Cole Sulser and Hunter Bigge have been known as up from Triple-A to fill the 2 spots on the energetic roster. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Instances reported on the strikes shortly earlier than the workforce’s official announcement, and in addition famous that catcher Logan Driscoll has been added to the taxi squad, maybe upfront of a contract choice tomorrow when rosters develop to twenty-eight gamers.
Poche has been a dependable bullpen arm for the final three seasons, along with his glorious 2.23 ERA over 60 2/3 innings in 2023 sandwiched between 2022 and 2024 campaigns that have been extra strong than spectacular. This yr, Poche has a 3.67 ERA, 22.3% strikeout fee, and 9.4% stroll fee over 34 1/3 innings for Tampa.
He missed a bit of over six weeks of the season because of again issues, and now this second IL stint might probably put the remainder of his 2024 marketing campaign in jeopardy, given the dearth of time remaining within the common season. Nonetheless, Poche instructed Topkin that he hopes to pitch once more earlier than the yr is out, and an MRI didn’t appear to disclose something structurally mistaken along with his shoulder.
Sulser and Bigge can be tasked with overlaying the innings left over by Poche and Ramirez, who’s headed to the DFA wire for the fourth time within the final 14 months. The Rays beforehand designated Ramirez again in Might after which outrighted him off the 40-man roster, solely to pick his contract once more earlier this week.
As a result of Ramirez has a previous outright on his resume, he has the power to reject one other outright task (if he clears waivers) and decide into free company. Because the veteran righty selected to stay within the group in Might, it might appear that he’s extra possible than to not once more settle for the outright task, persevering with his longstanding ties in Tampa Bay. Ramirez first pitched for the Rays from 2015-17 earlier than rejoining the workforce final season, and 377 1/3 of his 849 profession MLB innings have are available in a Tampa uniform.
This season, Ramirez has a 4.35 ERA in 20 2/3 frames for the Rays, working principally in a mop-up capability and consuming a number of innings when he has been on the workforce’s 26-man roster. One other workforce in want of skilled pitching might put in a declare to deliver Ramirez aboard in an identical capability, however likelihood is Ramirez will clear waivers and stay in Tampa’s farm system as bullpen depth.
