McClanahan landed on the Injured List last season after experiencing forearm tightness. He has met with several specialists since then in order to determine the best route forward.

According to Cash, it is possible that McClanahan will have to undergo surgery but is waiting for more opinions before making the final decision.

Shane McClanahan went 11-2 in his 21 starts this season, posting a 3.29 ERA with 121 strikeouts. He has been one of the catalysts for the Rays’ surprisingly good form this season and went on to earn his second career All-Star nod.

Losing McClanahan for the season will deal a tough blow to the Rays, who already have a depleted rotation. The team’s injured list includes Shane Baz, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, and Josh Fleming, while Tyler Glasnow is dealing with back spasms and had to miss his scheduled start over the weekend.

If the Rays’ pitching staff doesn’t get any healthier soon, the team will have to get creative with filling out their rotation. One of the moves they could make is promoting prospect Taj Bradley, who has already pitched in 16 games this season.

The post Rays’ Ace Shane McClanahan “Highly Unlikely” to Pitch Again in 2023 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Cleavinger has been placed on IL with knee strain designation, the injury is a lot more serious than that. According to Tampa’s manager Kevin Cash, Cleavinger appears to have suffered an ACL tear and might not return in 2023.

In a corresponding move, the Rays added right-hand pitcher Trevor Kelley from Triple-A Durham to their active roster.

The Tampa Bay Rays currently have the best record in the MLB at 29-7 and have won eight out of their last 10 games despite the injuries.

“The guys down there have done a good job kind of holding the fort down, knowing that we’re battling through some injuries,” Cash told the reporters on Monday. “This one is a little different in the fact that there’s not too much optimism to get him back any time soon.”

Garrett Cleavinger has been a key player for Ray’s bullpen so far in 2023. He played in 15 games and has a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts.

The post Rays’ Reliever Garrett Cleavinger Possibly Out for 2023 With ACL Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

By winning their 13th straight game, the Rays have tied with the previous records set by the Atlanta Braves in 1982 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987. The only longer streak in baseball history was set by the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association, who won their first 20 games of the season in 1884.

During their first 13 games, the Rays have outscored their opponents 101-30, winning all but one game by four or more runs. They are also the team with the most runs scored and fewest conceded.

While the Rays were trailing 3-1 in the fifth inning, Harold Ramirez turned their fortunes around, scoring a double top open the floodgates for the likes of Francisco Mejía, Brandon Lowe, Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco, and Manuel Margot, all of whom contributed to the Rays’ resounding win.

The post Tampa Bay Rays Equal MLB Record appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Prior to the agreement with Eflin, the Rays were the last remaining MLB team yet to award a free-agent contract in excess of $35 million.

At 28 years old, Eflin became a free agent after turning down a $15 million mutual option for a $150,000 buyout from the Philadelphia Phillies, instead choosing to wrap up a $5.7 million, one-year contract.

Last season, Eflin went 3-5 with a 4.04 ERA, striking out 65 in 75⅔ innings. He also filled in as a pitcher during the World Series against the Houston Astros, pitching 4⅓ scoreless innings as the Phillies went on to lose in six games.

Prior to arriving at the Rays, Eflin had spent his entire seven-year career in the MLB at Philadelphia. He now joins a rotation including Tyler Glasnow, Shane McClanahan, and Drew Rasmussen.

The post Zach Eflin Signs Largest-Ever Free-Agent Deal With Tampa Bay Rays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Arozarena got 22 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters and finished on top with 124 points. Garcia was second with two first-place votes and 63 points in total, while Franco rounded up the top three with 30 points.

Besides the trio, Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia and the Cleveland Indians pitcher Emmanuel Clase also received first-place votes.

Arozarena was a postseason standout for the Rays in 2020, hitting 10 home runs and breaking the MLB record. He also claimed the ALCS MVP honors while helping the Rays to reach their second Wild Series appearance. Despite this prominent role, the 26-year-old kept his rookie eligibility intact, considering he only had 84 at-bats appearances during the 2019 and 2020 regular seasons.

“I know I was favored to be the rookie of the year,” Arozarena said after receiving the award. “But for me, my mind wasn’t set on the award or winning the award. My mind and my goal was to have another good season and continue what I had done the year before.”

Arozarena definitively continued in the same fashion in 2021, posting a .274 batting average while hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bases. He became just the third rookie in the league history to post 20-20 season, joining Mike Trout and Andrew Benintendi.

The post Rays OF Randy Arozarena Wins American League Rookie of the Year Award appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The last time we saw Blake Snell, he was terrorizing the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series. Snell was on fire, and yet he was still taken out of the game by Rays manager Kevin Cash. The decision to remove Snell from the game ultimately led to the Dodgers’ World Series victory.

But although Los Angeles won the title, no one forgot just how dominant Snell was in Game 6—which is why the Padres are likely ecstatic to get hold of him.

Snell put up a 3.24 ERA in 11 starts throughout the 2020 season and improved that number to 3.03 in the postseason.

The winner of the 2018 AL Cy Young award, Snell joins a handful of All-Stars on the Padres squad. San Diego general manager A.J. Preller clearly feels that his team is in “win-now” mode, which is why he felt comfortable trading a handful of prospects for a pitcher who can help them right now.

The post Padres Acquire Blake Snell From Rays For Prospects appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Wacha, who spent the last season with the NY Mets, will reportedly earn $3 million in salary next season.

According to MLB.com, Wacha had more lucrative offers from other MLB teams but wanted to come to Tampa Bay in the hope that he’d have a bounce-back campaign after inconsistent performances in 2020. The 29-year-old slinger made seven starts with the Mets and posted a 1-4 record with 6.62 ERA and 37 strikeouts.

The Rays, on the other hand, jumped on the opportunity to add a former All-Star and get some veteran presence at a low cost.

“Michael was a priority target for us for several reasons,” Rays general manager Erik Neander told MLB.com. “Our need for pitching and length in particular is something that is well-documented. Michael is going to help us in that regard.”

Michael Wacha made his MLB debut with St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and immediately delivered a strong outing that saw him receiving the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award. Wacha followed this up with an All-Star nod in 2015 but struggled to keep that level of play due to frequent injuries.

Wacha’s MLB stats include a 60–43 record, 4.01 ERA, and 796 strikeouts.

The post Rays Sign RHP Michael Wacha to a 1-Year, $3 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The organization confirmed the move on Thursday, announcing that they will receive catcher/outfielder Heriberto Hernandez, infielder Osleivis Basabe, and outfielder Alexander Ovalles as part of the deal.

The Rangers, on the other hand, will also get minor-league first baseman Jake Guenther and a player to be named later alongside Lowe.

Nate Lowe, who made his MLB debut in 2019, played 21 games for the Rays this year. He finished the season with a .224 batting average, four home runs, and 11 RBIs.

In the postseason, the Rays only played Lowe once. The 25-year-old pitcher made it onto the field against the Toronto Blue Jays during the wild-card round, but failed to record a single hit after three trips to the plate.

While Lowe has a potential for a long MLB career, his trade doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after Tampa Bay reportedly tried to trade him ahead of the 2020 MLB trade deadline. The organization has a surplus of options at first base, and believed he wouldn’t have much opportunity to play in 2021.

By sending Lowe to Texas, Rays have now opened a roster spot and can look to fill a position of need. They also receive prospects that could potentially develop into solid contributors in the future.

The post Rays Trade First Baseman Nate Lowe to Rangers in Exchange for 3 Prospects appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 37-year-old right-hander has made a name for himself in recent years as a star in the clutch. He won Game 7 of the 2017 World Series while playing for the Houston Astros and won Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last season with the Rays.

The Braves were one game away from a World Series berth this season and were short on pitchers for most of the postseason. However, with recently signed free agent Drew Smyly and the addition of Morton, Atlanta might have one of the best rotations in baseball right now, at least on paper.

According to reports from Tampa, the Rays wanted to re-sign Morton, but Atlanta simply offered more money and the Rays were not willing to match. Morton was originally drafted by the Braves in 2002 and made his first professional start with them in 2008.

Over the last two seasons in Tampa, Morton went 18-8 with a 3.33 ERA. Coaches have also praised Morton for his willingness and ability to work with and help in the development of younger pitchers on the staff.

The post Atlanta Braves Sign Pitcher Charlie Morton to One-year, $15 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Interestingly enough, the last time the Dodgers won the title in 1988, it was Los Angeles legend Orel Hershiser who also won both the World Series and LCS MVP awards.

Seager was Mr. Reliable for the Dodgers in the World Series, batting .400 with five RBIs, six walks, and two home runs. The biggest hit he had in the series was the six-inning single that got Mookie Betts home from third base to put the Dodgers ahead 2-1 in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Betts would later add a one-run homer to seal the World Series title with a 3-1 victory.

Seager was looking for redemption this year. After the Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series in seven games to the Houston Astros, he missed the entire 2018 postseason due to injury.

In the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Seager hit .310 with 11 RBIs and five home runs in seven games. He came up big when it mattered most, hitting three of those homers in Games 5 and 6 when the Dodgers had their backs against the wall and were one loss away from being eliminated.

The post LA Dodgers Shortstop Corey Seager Named World Series MVP appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

McClanahan landed on the Injured List last season after experiencing forearm tightness. He has met with several specialists since then in order to determine the best route forward.

According to Cash, it is possible that McClanahan will have to undergo surgery but is waiting for more opinions before making the final decision.

Shane McClanahan went 11-2 in his 21 starts this season, posting a 3.29 ERA with 121 strikeouts. He has been one of the catalysts for the Rays’ surprisingly good form this season and went on to earn his second career All-Star nod.

Losing McClanahan for the season will deal a tough blow to the Rays, who already have a depleted rotation. The team’s injured list includes Shane Baz, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, and Josh Fleming, while Tyler Glasnow is dealing with back spasms and had to miss his scheduled start over the weekend.

If the Rays’ pitching staff doesn’t get any healthier soon, the team will have to get creative with filling out their rotation. One of the moves they could make is promoting prospect Taj Bradley, who has already pitched in 16 games this season.

The post Rays’ Ace Shane McClanahan “Highly Unlikely” to Pitch Again in 2023 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

While Cleavinger has been placed on IL with knee strain designation, the injury is a lot more serious than that. According to Tampa’s manager Kevin Cash, Cleavinger appears to have suffered an ACL tear and might not return in 2023.

In a corresponding move, the Rays added right-hand pitcher Trevor Kelley from Triple-A Durham to their active roster.

The Tampa Bay Rays currently have the best record in the MLB at 29-7 and have won eight out of their last 10 games despite the injuries.

“The guys down there have done a good job kind of holding the fort down, knowing that we’re battling through some injuries,” Cash told the reporters on Monday. “This one is a little different in the fact that there’s not too much optimism to get him back any time soon.”

Garrett Cleavinger has been a key player for Ray’s bullpen so far in 2023. He played in 15 games and has a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA and 14 strikeouts.

The post Rays’ Reliever Garrett Cleavinger Possibly Out for 2023 With ACL Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

By winning their 13th straight game, the Rays have tied with the previous records set by the Atlanta Braves in 1982 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987. The only longer streak in baseball history was set by the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association, who won their first 20 games of the season in 1884.

During their first 13 games, the Rays have outscored their opponents 101-30, winning all but one game by four or more runs. They are also the team with the most runs scored and fewest conceded.

While the Rays were trailing 3-1 in the fifth inning, Harold Ramirez turned their fortunes around, scoring a double top open the floodgates for the likes of Francisco Mejía, Brandon Lowe, Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco, and Manuel Margot, all of whom contributed to the Rays’ resounding win.

The post Tampa Bay Rays Equal MLB Record appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Prior to the agreement with Eflin, the Rays were the last remaining MLB team yet to award a free-agent contract in excess of $35 million.

At 28 years old, Eflin became a free agent after turning down a $15 million mutual option for a $150,000 buyout from the Philadelphia Phillies, instead choosing to wrap up a $5.7 million, one-year contract.

Last season, Eflin went 3-5 with a 4.04 ERA, striking out 65 in 75⅔ innings. He also filled in as a pitcher during the World Series against the Houston Astros, pitching 4⅓ scoreless innings as the Phillies went on to lose in six games.

Prior to arriving at the Rays, Eflin had spent his entire seven-year career in the MLB at Philadelphia. He now joins a rotation including Tyler Glasnow, Shane McClanahan, and Drew Rasmussen.

The post Zach Eflin Signs Largest-Ever Free-Agent Deal With Tampa Bay Rays appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Arozarena got 22 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voters and finished on top with 124 points. Garcia was second with two first-place votes and 63 points in total, while Franco rounded up the top three with 30 points.

Besides the trio, Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia and the Cleveland Indians pitcher Emmanuel Clase also received first-place votes.

Arozarena was a postseason standout for the Rays in 2020, hitting 10 home runs and breaking the MLB record. He also claimed the ALCS MVP honors while helping the Rays to reach their second Wild Series appearance. Despite this prominent role, the 26-year-old kept his rookie eligibility intact, considering he only had 84 at-bats appearances during the 2019 and 2020 regular seasons.

“I know I was favored to be the rookie of the year,” Arozarena said after receiving the award. “But for me, my mind wasn’t set on the award or winning the award. My mind and my goal was to have another good season and continue what I had done the year before.”

Arozarena definitively continued in the same fashion in 2021, posting a .274 batting average while hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bases. He became just the third rookie in the league history to post 20-20 season, joining Mike Trout and Andrew Benintendi.

The post Rays OF Randy Arozarena Wins American League Rookie of the Year Award appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The last time we saw Blake Snell, he was terrorizing the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series. Snell was on fire, and yet he was still taken out of the game by Rays manager Kevin Cash. The decision to remove Snell from the game ultimately led to the Dodgers’ World Series victory.

But although Los Angeles won the title, no one forgot just how dominant Snell was in Game 6—which is why the Padres are likely ecstatic to get hold of him.

Snell put up a 3.24 ERA in 11 starts throughout the 2020 season and improved that number to 3.03 in the postseason.

The winner of the 2018 AL Cy Young award, Snell joins a handful of All-Stars on the Padres squad. San Diego general manager A.J. Preller clearly feels that his team is in “win-now” mode, which is why he felt comfortable trading a handful of prospects for a pitcher who can help them right now.

The post Padres Acquire Blake Snell From Rays For Prospects appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Wacha, who spent the last season with the NY Mets, will reportedly earn $3 million in salary next season.

According to MLB.com, Wacha had more lucrative offers from other MLB teams but wanted to come to Tampa Bay in the hope that he’d have a bounce-back campaign after inconsistent performances in 2020. The 29-year-old slinger made seven starts with the Mets and posted a 1-4 record with 6.62 ERA and 37 strikeouts.

The Rays, on the other hand, jumped on the opportunity to add a former All-Star and get some veteran presence at a low cost.

“Michael was a priority target for us for several reasons,” Rays general manager Erik Neander told MLB.com. “Our need for pitching and length in particular is something that is well-documented. Michael is going to help us in that regard.”

Michael Wacha made his MLB debut with St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 and immediately delivered a strong outing that saw him receiving the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award. Wacha followed this up with an All-Star nod in 2015 but struggled to keep that level of play due to frequent injuries.

Wacha’s MLB stats include a 60–43 record, 4.01 ERA, and 796 strikeouts.

The post Rays Sign RHP Michael Wacha to a 1-Year, $3 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The organization confirmed the move on Thursday, announcing that they will receive catcher/outfielder Heriberto Hernandez, infielder Osleivis Basabe, and outfielder Alexander Ovalles as part of the deal.

The Rangers, on the other hand, will also get minor-league first baseman Jake Guenther and a player to be named later alongside Lowe.

Nate Lowe, who made his MLB debut in 2019, played 21 games for the Rays this year. He finished the season with a .224 batting average, four home runs, and 11 RBIs.

In the postseason, the Rays only played Lowe once. The 25-year-old pitcher made it onto the field against the Toronto Blue Jays during the wild-card round, but failed to record a single hit after three trips to the plate.

While Lowe has a potential for a long MLB career, his trade doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after Tampa Bay reportedly tried to trade him ahead of the 2020 MLB trade deadline. The organization has a surplus of options at first base, and believed he wouldn’t have much opportunity to play in 2021.

By sending Lowe to Texas, Rays have now opened a roster spot and can look to fill a position of need. They also receive prospects that could potentially develop into solid contributors in the future.

The post Rays Trade First Baseman Nate Lowe to Rangers in Exchange for 3 Prospects appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 37-year-old right-hander has made a name for himself in recent years as a star in the clutch. He won Game 7 of the 2017 World Series while playing for the Houston Astros and won Game 7 of the American League Championship Series last season with the Rays.

The Braves were one game away from a World Series berth this season and were short on pitchers for most of the postseason. However, with recently signed free agent Drew Smyly and the addition of Morton, Atlanta might have one of the best rotations in baseball right now, at least on paper.

According to reports from Tampa, the Rays wanted to re-sign Morton, but Atlanta simply offered more money and the Rays were not willing to match. Morton was originally drafted by the Braves in 2002 and made his first professional start with them in 2008.

Over the last two seasons in Tampa, Morton went 18-8 with a 3.33 ERA. Coaches have also praised Morton for his willingness and ability to work with and help in the development of younger pitchers on the staff.

The post Atlanta Braves Sign Pitcher Charlie Morton to One-year, $15 Million Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Interestingly enough, the last time the Dodgers won the title in 1988, it was Los Angeles legend Orel Hershiser who also won both the World Series and LCS MVP awards.

Seager was Mr. Reliable for the Dodgers in the World Series, batting .400 with five RBIs, six walks, and two home runs. The biggest hit he had in the series was the six-inning single that got Mookie Betts home from third base to put the Dodgers ahead 2-1 in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

Betts would later add a one-run homer to seal the World Series title with a 3-1 victory.

Seager was looking for redemption this year. After the Dodgers lost the 2017 World Series in seven games to the Houston Astros, he missed the entire 2018 postseason due to injury.

In the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Seager hit .310 with 11 RBIs and five home runs in seven games. He came up big when it mattered most, hitting three of those homers in Games 5 and 6 when the Dodgers had their backs against the wall and were one loss away from being eliminated.

The post LA Dodgers Shortstop Corey Seager Named World Series MVP appeared first on yoursportspot.com.