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  • Shane McClanahan Scoreless Over Two Starts This Spring

    Tampa Bay Rays left-handerShane McClanahanhas not given up a run during Spring Training. McClanahan has pitched 4 2/3 innings, striking out four, and has a WHIP of 0.64. The southpaw is still building his pitch count and has a few more spring innings left to go, but he looks ready for Opening Day. After striking out 30.3% of batters last season, McClanahan is set to be an ace again this year. He had a sparkling 2.54 ERA and a WHIP under one. He's currently RotoBaller's No. 8 ranked starting pitcher, but he is going outside the top 30 in drafts, making for a great value. If he can stay healthy for the full season, he should give great returns compared to his draft position.

    Mar 17 · Source via Rays Shane McClanahan

  • Wander Franco Off To Hot Start This Spring

    Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco only has eight spring training at-bats to his credit, but he's made the most of them as he prepares for what he hopes will be his first full MLB season. Franco has gone 4-for-8 with a home run and a stolen base alongside a monstrous 1.636 OPS in his small spring sample. The 22-year-old has added a double while walking three times against just one strikeout. If there's any negative to be plucked from his early work this spring, it's that he's just 1-for-3 on stolen base attempts to this point. In any regard, there are big expectations for the Dominican Republic native in 2023. He hit .277 with six HR and eight SB alongside a .745 OPS across 83 games while missing time due to wrist surgery a season ago. Franco's bat has been 21% above league average through the first 153 games of his career, according to wRC+, while he is among the elite dynasty league shortstops available on draft day.

    Mar 16 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

  • Rays Acquire Victor Castaneda As PTBNL From Javy Guerra Trade

    The Rays have acquired right-hander Victor Castaneda from the Brewers as the player to be named later from the November trade that sent fellow righty Javy Guerra to the Brewers, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Castaneda, 24, was an international amateur signed by the Brewers out of Mexico in 2017. He’s worked…

    Mar 15 · MLB Trade Rumors Rays Javy Guerra

  • Rays Add Trevor Kelley To 40-Man Roster

    The Tampa Bay Rays selected right-hander Trevor Kelley to their 40-man roster on Wednesday and placed right-hander Andrew Kittredge (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Kittredge is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will miss at least the first half of the season. Kelley could still begin the 2023 regular season in the minor leagues, so he'll need to impress over final few weeks of spring training in order to make the Opening Day roster. The 30-year-old made 18 relief appearances (23 2/3 innings) for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022 and had a rough 6.08 ERA (6.41 FIP), 1.44 WHIP and 23 strikeouts out of the bullpen.

    Mar 15 · Source via Rays Trevor Kelley

  • Rays Select Trevor Kelley, Place Andrew Kittredge On 60-Day IL

    The Rays announced Wednesday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Trevor Kelley, who signed a minor league deal over the winter and has been in camp as a non-roster invitee. A spot on the 40-man roster has been opened by placing fellow right-hander Andrew Kittredge on the 60-day injured list. Tampa Bay originally made…

    Mar 15 · MLB Trade Rumors Rays Shane Baz Trevor Kelley Andrew Kittredge closers

  • Taj Bradley Optioned To Minors

    Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley has been optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday. There was a chance that Bradley would make the Opening Day roster with Tyler Glasnow (oblique) sidelined. Despite that, it sounds like the team wants to see Bradley pitch in Triple-A to begin the season. The 21-year-old threw three scoreless innings with a 1.20 WHIP during Grapefruit league action. It shouldn't be long before we see Bradley making an impact in the big league rotation. He's worth stashing in dynasty and keeper leagues to begin the season.

    Mar 13 · Source via Rays Taj Bradley prospects

  • Yandy Diaz Back In The Lineup Monday

    Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hand) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Detroit Tigers and right-hander Miguel Diaz. Diaz is starting at third base and hitting leadoff for the Rays. Diaz was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the spring game on Friday, and this will be just his third Grapefruit League game after missing some time with a hip-flexor injury. X-rays on the 31-year-old's hand came back negative, so he should be fine for Opening Day unless he gets unlucky and suffers a third spring injury. Diaz doesn't hit for much power, but he makes a lot of hard contact and doesn't strike out often. He's a strong target in on-base-percentage leagues while hitting atop Tampa's lineup.

    Mar 13 · Source via Rays Yandy Diaz

  • Josh Fleming Contending For Rotation Spot

    With Tampa Bay Rays incumbent aceTyler Glasnow(oblique) starting the season on the injured list, southpawJosh Flemingis making a case to fill the fifth rotation spot. Fleming made three starts last season and molded a 9.26 ERA with 11 strikeouts. The lefty has yet to make more than 11 starts in his three-year career, but he's got the longevity to become one. The 26-year-old spent quality time in Triple-A Durham, owning a 3.06 ERA over 10 starts. The Rays have certainly developed Fleming as a starter, but the lack of success playing that role raises some concerns. Despite these concerns, Tampa Bay is heavily considering Fleming to become the fifth starter. Other pitchers likeLuis PatinoandYonny Chirinosare potential candidates for the fifth spot.

    Mar 12 · Source via Rays Josh Fleming

  • Brandon Lowe Hits Home Run Thursday

    Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe connected for a third-inning solo shot off Blue Jays pitcher Casey Lawrence while he added a single on the afternoon as well, raising his average to .333 for the spring. The lefty-swinging Lowe had his 2022 season limited to just 65 games due to injury and hit only .221 with eight homers and a .691 OPS in that time. His 104 wRC+ on the season was easily a career low despite sitting slightly above the league average. The 28-year-old represents a strong bounce-back candidate when healthy, as he hit 39 homers with seven steals and an .863 OPS as recently as 2021 while he owns a career .830 OPS across parts of five big-league seasons. His ability to hit left-handed pitching for power ensures him a lineup spot on a near everyday basis when healthy as he looks to bounce back in 2023.

    Mar 10 · Source via Rays Brandon Lowe

  • X-Rays Negative On Yandy Diaz

    Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that X-rays on corner infielder Yandy Diaz's hand came back negative on Friday after he left the Grapefruit League game after his first at-bat when he was hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist. Diaz was returning from a hip-flexor injury on Friday before getting hurt again right away. The injury doesn't sound very serious, though, so hopefully the 31-year-old can get back into game action soon as he prepares for Opening Day in a few weeks. Diaz hit .296/.401/.423 with a career-high .824 OPS, nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and three stolen bases in 558 plate appearances and 137 games for the Rays in 2022. He should continue to hit atop Tampa's batting order and is a fine source of runs, on-base percentage and batting average in fantasy.

    Mar 10 · Source via Rays Yandy Diaz

  • Yandy Diaz Leaves Early After Hit By Pitch

    Tampa Bay Rays corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hip, hand, wrist) returned to the Grapefruit League lineup on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after dealing with a hip-flexor injury, but he left the game after his first at-bat after getting hit by a pitch on his hand/wrist area. It's a tough break for the 31-year-old, but fantasy managers will need to check back later to find out the severity of his latest injury and whether it could keep him out for Opening Day later this month. Diaz has only played in one spring training game so far due to his hip injury, so he'll need plenty more at-bats to get ready for the 2023 regular season. The contact-oriented hitter is a great source of on-base percentage and batting average in fantasy when he's healthy.

    Mar 10 · Source via Rays Yandy Diaz

  • Yandy Diaz To Play First Base On Friday

    Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said corner infielder Yandy Diaz (hip) will play first base in a Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after missing some time in camp with a hip-flexor injury. The 31-year-old has missed almost a week of spring training action, but he'll be back in action this weekend and should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback in the next few weeks. Diaz doesn't have a ton of power for fantasy managers, but he hits atop Tampa's lineup, gets on base frequently, makes a lot of hard contact and is an everyday player. He signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the Rays back in January.

    Mar 9 · Source via Rays Yandy Diaz

  • Rays Have Discussed Extension With Top Prospect Curtis Mead

    The Rays and top infield prospect Curtis Mead have had some discussions regarding a possible contract extension this spring, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). There’s no indication a deal is likely or imminent, though the talks add an interesting storyline to Tampa Bay camp. Mead, 22, has still yet to make his major league…

    Mar 8 · MLB Trade Rumors Rays Curtis Mead prospects

  • Greg Jones To Begin Playing Outfield

    Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Greg Jones is expected to begin playing outfield this week. The 24-year-old has played shortstop almost exclusively since being drafted in the first-round by the Rays in 2019. Despite that, it sounds like he'll make a move to the outfield with Wander Franco serving as the shortstop in Tampa Bay. Manager Kevin Cash mentioned the importance of having defensive versatility on his team. Jones hasn't played above Double-A yet, but could be making his debut in Tampa Bay sooner rather than later.

    Mar 6 · Source via Rays Greg Jones

  • Ryan Thompson Makes Spring Debut

    Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Ryan Thompson (triceps) made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles and walked one in a scoreless inning of work in relief. Thompson ended the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list due to right triceps inflammation, but he's healthy now and should be just fine for the start of the 2023 season. Although the 30-year-old isn't much of a fantasy weapon, he was an integral piece of Tampa's bullpen last year before his injury and had a 3.80 ERA (3.42 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, three saves, 10 holds and a career-high 39 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings over 47 appearances out of the bullpen.

    Mar 6 · Source via Rays Ryan Thompson closers

  • Taj Bradley Fine After Being Hit By Comebacker

    Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley (calf) said he checked out fine on Saturday after leaving the Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees as a precaution when he was hit on the side of his right calf by a comebacker. In his two spring outings so far, the 21-year-old has tossed two scoreless innings. He's one of the top prospects in all of baseball heading into the 2023 season after dominating in the minors in recent seasons. Bradley wasn't as good in 2022 with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham and could use some more seasoning on his secondary pitches, but he still has a bright future at the big-league level. He's expected to begin 2023 at Durham, but he's worth stashing in dynasty/keeper and deep AL-only leagues.

    Mar 5 · Source via Rays Taj Bradley prospects
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