The Rays introduced a sequence of roster strikes Saturday, together with the information that left-hander Colin Poche was positioned on the 15-day injured checklist attributable to irritation in his throwing shoulder. Proper-hander Erasmo Ramirez was additionally designated for project, and right-handers Cole Sulser and Hunter Bigge had been referred to as up from Triple-A to fill the 2 spots on the lively 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 prematurely of a contract choice Sunday when rosters increase to twenty-eight gamers.
Poche has been a dependable bullpen arm for the final three seasons, together with his glorious 2.23 ERA over 60 2/3 innings in 2023 sandwiched between 2022 and 2024 campaigns that had been extra strong than spectacular. This yr, Poche has a 3.67 ERA, 22.3% strikeout price, and 9.4% stroll price over 34 1/3 innings for Tampa.
He missed a little bit over six weeks of the season attributable to again issues, and now this second IL stint may doubtlessly put the remainder of his 2024 marketing campaign in jeopardy, given the shortage of time remaining within the common season. Nevertheless, 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 together with his shoulder.
Sulser and Bigge will likely be tasked with masking 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 out 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 project (if he clears waivers) and decide into free company. For the reason that veteran righty selected to stay within the group in Might, it might appear that he’s extra doubtless than to not once more settle for the outright project, 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 largely 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 may 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.
