The Rays have begun to bolster their bullpen, announcing on Thursday that they’ve acquired lefty reliever Dan Jennings from the White Sox in exchange for first base prospect Casey Gillaspie. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated right-hander Diego Moreno for assignment.
[Related: Updated Chicago White Sox depth chart and Tampa Bay Rays depth chart]
Tampa Bay has been known to be interested in picking up a left-handed reliever, and they’ve reportedly checked in on the likes of San Diego’s Brad Hand and Detroit’s Justin Wilson in recent weeks. Both relievers are reportedly attached to exorbitant asking prices, however, which likely prompted the Rays to shift to another southpaw that they can control beyond the current campaign. Notably, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweets that the Rays are still looking at bigger names on the relief market, so there could yet be further additions to the Tampa Bay bullpen.
Jennings, 30, has been a solid bullpen piece for the Sox since being acquired prior to the 2015 season in a shrewd trade by Chicago GM Rick Hahn. (The Sox sent righty Andre Rienzo to Miami in exchange for Jennings.) Jennings has totaled 161 1/3 innings out of the South Siders’ bullpen in the past three seasons, and while his 7.3 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 marks don’t stand out, he’s used a 59.1 percent ground-ball rate and a paltry 23.7 percent hard-contact rate to help him to a 3.12 ERA in that time.
While he’s long been effective against lefties, Jennings has been flat-out lethal against southpaw swingers in 2017, limiting them to a feeble .164/.286/.211 batting line through 85 plate appearances. He’s also earning just $1.4MM in 2017 and can be retained for another two years via arbitration, making him a nice longer-term piece for the Rays’ bullpen.
Jennings becomes the second reliever that the White Sox have flipped in a one-for-one swap involving a solid offensive prospect in as many days. (Anthony Swarzak officially went to the Brewers in exchange for outfielder Ryan Cordell yesterday.) Gillaspie, 24, was the Rays’ first-round pick in the 2014 draft and entered the season ranked as the game’s No. 74 overall prospect in the eyes of Baseball America. That ranking came on the heels of a strong .286/.387/.482 batting line in 555 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A in last year’s age-23 campaign.
The 2017 season has been a struggle for Gillaspie, however. He’s slumped to a .227/.296/.357 slash through his first 395 PAs with Triple-A Durham and had slipped from fifth to tenth on MLB.com’s rankings of the organization’s top 30 prospects. That said, MLB.com’s Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo still placed a solid 50 grade (on the 20-80 scouting scale) on Gillaspie’s overall potential moving forward, praising the switch-hitter’s “untapped power potential” and touting him as at least a league-average defender at first base.
CSN Chicago’s Chuck Garfien tweets that Gillaspie, the younger brother of former White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie, is currently dealing with a broken toe and is expected to be out for another one to two weeks. He’ll then report to Triple-A Charlotte.
Losing his roster spot as a result of the trade will be the 30-year-old Moreno, who has tossed 5 2/3 frames out of the Rays’ bullpen this season and allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Moreno’s biggest claim to fame is being one of the two players traded by the Pirates to the Yankees in the 2012 swap that sent A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh. He has just 16 innings at the big league level but has posted a more palatable 3.70 ERA with 8.3 K/9 against 2.8 BB/9 through 165 1/3 career innings in Triple-A.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick first reported that the Rays were closing in on a trade for a left-handed reliever (Twitter link). Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported the specifics (also on Twitter).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Smart move. Desmond Jennings now playing with brother. Chemistry will be at all time high in the clubhouse
Ummm… your definition of “brother” is rather loose.
Had to be a joke
As I see it now, I realize it probably is. He got me (maybe).
Desmond doesn’t play for the Rays anymore.
Well played, sir.
Dumbest statement ever made.
I concur.
I really hope that’s a joke
Wrong color dude
So, who’s actually in the White Sox bullpen now?? Everyone from the AAA Charlotte Knights??
And Jake petricka but he’s been injured and Garbo so he ain’t being traded
Comisky is turning into a ghost town. Bring up Lopez!
Why? I don’t want to burn any more time off his clock if they can help it. This year is shot and they shouldn’t want anyone who can help them actually win games now. I’d bring up all their fringe guys at AAA and even AA that they don’t care about, the 27-yr old minor lifers that normally wouldn’t get a shot at the bigs. Let them get hammered while Lopez and the others continue to work on their control.
Unless you’re planning on keeping Lopez down until next June, service time is no longer an issue. Lopez has nothing left to prove in the minors; he needs to be learning AT the major league level.
I wouldn’t mind it, but then, I’m cheap. The Cubs are in an enviable position because of their young talent, but they will also have a problem when they can no longer afford that talent. Keeping him down would delay that on what looks to be one of their key guys. Maybe you’re right, though, he has earned a September call-up based on what he’s done this year.
Under what circumstances will the Cubs ever be unable to afford their talent? They are one of the wealthiest clubs in the league with damn near unlimited revenue streams and a billionaire owner.
The Cubs can afford to spend a lot more than most teams. Whether they will or not remains to be seen.
FYI, nearly every owner/ownership group is a billionaire that doesn’t mean they all spend it on their teams
Assuming Rizzo and Bryant return to form, they could each command a deal of $25M/yr or more. Then they have Schwarber, Russell, Arrieta, and a bunch more. With the luxury tax, there comes a point at which these guys aren’t worth double their contracts.
wow, rays gave up on him pretty quickly. Jennings is a solid lefty in the pen but I’d imagine they would’ve waited on Casey a little longer
I was surprised to see his name as well, but with Bauers close and drafting McKay this year makes it a little easier to swallow. Still shocking though
i agree
What are the rays going to do with Casey gilaspie? You can only play 1 first baseman and you’re certainly not going to play one who can’t even bat 240 in AAA. You got an okay lefty reliever for him and that’s about as much as you could have ever hoped for
So you looked into his 2017 stats and you’re now an expert on Casey Gillaspie? He’s a former 1st round pick who is having ONE down year. He hit well in AA last year and in the 2nd half hit .307 at AAA. The same place his struggling this year. We are shocked you give up on a guy that quickly. He’s a solid 1B talent, to state anything otherwise is ridiculous.
He is a first base only prospect. He is 24 years old and he has hit terrible against AAA pitching. I’m sorry you think it’s ridiculous but 1B only prospects who don’t hit don’t have a whole lot of value. I’m sorry he was a prospect on your rays but he’s fallen off. AJ reed was a big deal last year too when he hit AA pitching and now he is an after thought. How about Christian walker? Been DFA’d without ever seeing the field. Gilaspie isn’t worth much bud. And if you look at his stats you could say last year was his one good year because I don’t see any numbers that show you he’s ever been tearing up minor league pitching
Baseball Americas 78th best prospect coming into 2017, one down year (and a half of one at that) and now he’s no good.
Got it, thanks.
Just dealt the former #78 prospect in baseball for a dead nuts average lefty reliever. Think he’s still a high regarded prospect? Got it, thanks.
Good trade … Sox traded Andre Rienzo to get Jennings from Miami and turned Jennings into a former number one pick.
Dustin Ackley was a former number one pick….
So was Brian Taylor…What’s your point?!?!
Former first round pick. He was 20 overall.
Thank you Chester for correcting me. I meant to say former first round pick. My point JBaker, which I did not mention, is Gillaspie is a good return for someone like Jennings. Jennings has had high WHIPS and allows inherited runners to score. His stats are deceiving.
Jennings went to Nebraska. Gillaspie grew up in Omaha.
I love seeing connections in trades like that.
Me too
Well Sox get Conor’s brother, but he is no longer on Sox either.
hahn knows how to get potential players
I like this deal more for the White Sox, but it makes sense for the Rays too. I’d be surprised that they’re trading Gillaspie away, but there isn’t really much need for him with McKay and Bauers in the system too.
The other part of this trade that hasn’t been reported is the White Sox are quickly gaining steam on the #1 pick in next summers draft. They clearly will lose more games now then both San Fran and the Phillies.
Don’t know if it’s clear they lose more than Philly. Even San Fran isn’t too clear if they trade away Cueto soon. But here’s hoping.
Cueto I don’t think is going anywhere. Can see the Giants playing better than they were before. Especially with Bumgarner healthy now. I would be more concerned about the Padres trading more guys away and being worse.
Doubt the Padres can suck that bad, just like I doubt the Sox overtake Philly. I didn’t know MadBum was back; with that, I expect the Sox to get the #2 pick, though Philly has been playing surprisingly well of late.
The Padres would have to go 18-43 the rest of the way to lose 100 games as everyone predicted. Highly unlikely that happens. With how mediocre the pitching staff looked on paper on opening day and with no real stars on the team I don’t know how they have managed to be semi-competitive. Also being the first team ever to carry 3 Rule 5 guys. Andy Green has done a really good job getting these nobody’s to compete, even though it does nothing for next year’s draft positioning. Tanking is the way to go in a rebuild but you can’t get mad when you guys come up and find ways to win games, that bodes well for future success also.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed on the Sox getting the #1 pick. I have some doubts though. The White Sox are a proud organization. They play hard regardless who’s on the field for them. In contrast, Philly doesn’t play as hard. The players and organization are both committed to tanking, much like the Sixers were.
There doesn’t seem to be much difference between #1 draft picks and #2 thru #5. I’ll be happy if the Sox get a top 3 picks the two years.
Sox are trading away almost everyone. I just hope they bring up guys they don’t care about (to continue to tank) rather than starting the clock on prospects who will help once they’re ready to contend again. Let them really suck this year and maybe, just maybe, the Sox can still overtake Philly.
Jennings just announced he will make himself Manager of the Rays. Total Dan Jennings move.
That’s very funny. I hope more people get it.
Me too
Yankees should pick up Diego. Guy was fantastic for the bullpen…
I hope that was a joke!
Well, his ML debut was very impressive, so in a way… no, I’m not joking.
A 30 year old career minor leaguer who has 16 innings in the majors? And a 5+ Era? Am i missing something here?
Rays now out of contention for Brad Hand?
Heard on the radio this morning that the Padres asked for Honeywell and Adames for Hand. LOL
I love the Padres but that’s just outrageous!
Washington probably out as well seeing they brought up Feede to fill in for Strasburgh and however long he may be out for.
Feede has been the name thrown around the most in realistic trade scenarios for Hand. Chacin has continued to pitch pretty well, could see him packed with Hand still to facilitate a deal, Chacin would take Strasburgh’s place in the rotation until he got back. Then maybe go to a swing man role.
Talk to the Hand
Not a good sign that Gillaspie cannot hit anymore… had good numbers last season in fewer ABs.
Could just be a bad year. Almost every player has one at some point. Sox could use a DH. I like the move just because it helps sink them further this year.
“Untapped” Switch-hitting 6-4, 240?
Next up, Melky to the Pirates for Ogle or Robles.
So who’s actually left to pitch out of the bullpen for the white sox? Tyler Clippard going to pitch 6th 7th 8th by himself?
I think the White Sox are taking applications for spots. Questions on it:
1. Can you pitch competently? If yes, please explain.
2. Will you help us win games?
3 Are you willing to sign a minimum wage contract and be gone at the end of the year?
If you answer no, no, and yes, you have a pretty good chance.
1. I can give you a sub 7 era. I cant promise many strike outs but I wont be giving up walks either. Ill pound that mf strike zone.
2. Win games? Put me in if we are up 5 or more runs and ill help us win games.
3. Minimum wage? Ill do it for 450k. And yeah 1 and done baby. College basketball style.
That 450K will have to be pro-rated. Hope that’s ok.
1. I pitched one inning in high school, so surely I’m qualified.
2. Put me in when we’re up 10, and I promise we’ll still lose. You’ll love me if you’re trying to tank.
3. I’ll pitch the rest of the season for a shiny penny and a 4 for $4 from Wendy’s.
Hired! That’s the kind of go-getter, lose-now mentality we’re looking for! Be at Guaranteed Rate Field by 4PM so you can take a physical and get fitted for your uniform.
Psh. All I have to say is that I’m left-handed and can throw sliders and curve balls for strikes.
Too good for the White Sox this year. Take your talents to someone actually trying to win.
Holmie, my guy
Solid move by the Rays.
would have preferred a prospect who is trending upward. hopeful this half-season is just an outlier for conor’s brother.
He is likely bored of AAA
Sox pitching staff = woof!
Apparently Hahn wants to tank again in 2018 then start the slow return to respectability. Gives him a good draft this past summer and hopefully a very very good one next summer ( top 3 ) then another top 10 and they will be set for years.
Most teams don’t tank for just one year in baseball. Pretty sure the plan is to suck for a while…
Pretty good move by both clubs. Dan Jennings is not exactly a top tier reliever, but he is far better than any other left handed option that the Rays have. A solid upgrade for sure, and the White Sox get a prospect with some level of pedigree who is having a down year.
Too bad Hahn couldn’t trade the hitting coach too. As for the bullpen, maybe the peanut vendors can get them through seasons end. I’ve seen them throw two rows back and eight seats down with good control, accuracy and average velocity. Can’t be any worse than David Holmberg.
I hope the sox know what they are doing. They are getting lots of unproven players. Better hope they work out or you six fans may be miserable for 20 years.
Casey gillaspie probably won’t make much of an impact on the teams future success but it’s a god damn guarantee that Dan Jennings won’t. That’s how trades work when you’re rebuilding. Thanks for stating the obvious
Yeah. If only we had Indians sized crowds at our games.
Miserable for 20 years lol. The white sox have been awful since 06. I’m just happy as a fan that they picked a clear direction and are finally attempting to build the club the right way. If it doesn’t workout then start looking at executives, scouts, and developmental personnel and made changes there. The Blackhawks were chicagos first organization to do this correctly, Cubs then successfully did it, bears are killing me but at least attempting a rebuild of sorts, bulls front office is the worst.
Like the Trade so maybe Abreu made available beacuse Dozier,Straily and so on were today.
What’s next, a trade for Gordon Beckham’s sister?