Sep. 13: The Rays announced that Criswell has been returned to Triple-A. Additionally, they have recalled Josh Fleming and Yonny Chirinos, with the latter serving as the “29th man” for today’s doubleheader.
Sep. 12, 1:05pm: Topkin relays that McKay has indeed been transferred to the 60-day IL to open up another 40-man roster spot. The Rays also announced the moves, saying that Criswell has been “added” to the roster, with Guerra and Herget “selected.” That would seem to suggest that Criswell is a COVID substitute, temporarily taking Raley’s place on the roster. That means he will be eligible to be removed from the roster at a later date without being placed on waivers.
9:05am: The Rays are making a series of changes to their pitching staff prior to a big five-game series in Toronto that starts tonight (Twitter links from Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). Three right-handers will be added to the roster: Cooper Criswell, Kevin Herget and Javy Guerra. Two other righties, Luis Patiño and Calvin Faucher, were optioned after yesterday’s game to open a couple of spots on the active roster. Left-hander Brooks Raley will open a third by being placed on the restricted list, ineligible to cross the Canadian-American border due to his unvaccinated status. None of Criswell, Herget or Guerra are on the 40-man roster, which is currently at 39. Raley won’t count against that number while on the restricted list, leaving the club still to open one spot. Speculatively speaking, they could transfer lefty Brendan McKay to the 60-day injusted list in the wake of the news of his Tommy John surgery.
Criswell, 26, made his MLB debut last year with a 1 1/3-inning cup of coffee with the Angels. They placed him on the 60-day IL this year due to shoulder soreness and eventually lost him to the Rays on a waiver claim in July. Since that claim, Criswell has thrown 27 1/3 innings over eight games for the Triple-A Durham Bulls. He has a 3.95 ERA in that time with a 20.8% strikeout rate, 4.7% walk rate and 51.9% ground ball rate. He was designated for assignment in July, getting outrighted after clearing waivers. He will get the start for tonight’s game and could give the Rays at least a few frames. Each of his last eight appearances have been between three and four innings.
Herget, 31, spent many years in the Cardinals’ system and one in Cleveland’s before joining the Rays on a minor league deal. He was selected to Tampa’s roster in August but got designated for assignment before making his MLB debut. He’s thrown 91 2/3 innings over 19 appearances for the Bulls on the year, making him another multi-inning option for the Rays. He has a 2.55 ERA for the season with a 24.7% strikeout rate, 3.8% walk rate and 35.9% ground ball rate.
Guerra, 26, has 34 innings of MLB experience thus far, mostly with the Padres. He was traded to the Rays in April for cash considerations but was designated for assignment in May, clearing waivers and getting outrighted to Durham. He briefly returned to the team as a COVID substitute the last time the Rays traveled to Toronto. He’s been used in the more traditional single-inning reliever role, having thrown 41 1/3 innings over 43 Triple-A games this year. He has a 1.74 ERA in that stretch with a 31.9% strikeout rate, 9.8% walk rate and 47.1% grounder rate.
Thanks to tomorrow’s doubleheader, the Rays and Jays will be playing five games over the next four days, making it fairly logical for Tampa to add some fresh arms. Josh Fleming and Jimmy Yacabonis are also traveling with the team on the taxi squad, making them candidates to be the club’s “29th man” for the twin bill. Along with the Mariners, the Rays and Blue Jays are holding down the American League Wild Card spots, with all three teams within half a game of each other. That means these contests will be key in determining the postseason picture in a few weeks’ time. In this year’s new playoff format, the first round is played entirely in the home field of the top-seeded team, so there’s a meaningful difference between having the first Wild Card spot and the second/third.
I wish all three callups can take their AAA success up to the big leagues, but I don’t expect it. Seems like the gap between MLB success and AAA success is wider than ever, not just here but across the board. If these three actually produce for the Rays, then maybe the Rays are better identifying MLB potential than they get credit for.
The Rays have always been known to succeed with a small payroll and scouting capabilities. When has that ever changed?
2023 World Champion Sting Rays
Getting destroyed by the Yankees over the weekend will do that to a team. The clubhouse staff is still mopping up the tears in the visitors dugout
LOL sure. Yep, NYY whooped us in two games…we also had taken control of the season series over the past few three-gamers. No crying, no fear…I just hope we meet up again in the playoffs so we can knock you out…again.
@Sideline Redwino- That definitely sounds like wishful thinking and delusion, but whatever works for you. That’s cool. Anymore Sting Ray Player predictions?
Good to see you guys may actually win a division title this year! Been a while! We’re kinda over the last two years, and being as baseball is all you seemingly have, you can have it back. The self-pity from you folks is so entertaining! Spending all that $$$ and you still can’t win. You are good at talking smack tho. That “sting ray” comment, dang that’s funny. And using it on every post? Never gets old! You should be a creative writer!
@Sideline Wino- It must be nice continuing to root for a team that nobody likes? I’m glad that works out for you. A loser, rooting for a loser team, makes perfect sense. It’s probably nice having your “Yankee Daddy Hal” paying all your favorite team’s bills. And you’ve won nothing with all that help. The Sting Rays are garbage face it. It NEVER gets old either. Hopefully one day they can actually win ONE World Series? Doubt it. Lol.
Only a loser of a person like you would get their account banned and then come back with a new one dropping the same tired insults like “sting ray” that you think hit so deep. Glad to see the Rays live rent free in your head to the point you get enjoyment from trolling every post that mentions them. Talk about someone with insecurities.
My account has never been banned. If saying”Sting Rays” bothers you so much I will definitely keep saying it though. Who’s really feeling insecure now?
After the second half karma the Yankees have had are you sure you want to rub it in to rays fans over 2 games ?
They’re Yankee fans. It’s all they know. You’d think after winning so many titles (because they feel the need to remind everyone, ya know, insecurity?) they could win with class. Nope.
Sideline Wino- you got to ask yourself why are they’re so many of us(Yankee Fans) and so little of you(Sting Ray Fans) Answer- We’re a better organization. The best in sports. Understand?
O’s fan here.
The content of this article speaks volumes, with kudos, to the successful player personnel movement effort Rays management has accomplished to have the team where they currently are standings wise.
Toronto, outside of losing Ryu and temporarily Guriel (sp?) have little to no excuse to put some distance between themselves and the Rays. That said, it’s a funny game. O’s fan enjoying following the action here. Good luck to both of youse in this series.
Oh please. Up until those last 2 games the Rays won the last 3 series pretty convincingly against the Yankees (who scored very few runs in those wins.
@Fljay073- That’s because the Yankees we’re at full strength, right? Smh.
Nay nay nay nay nay nay nay.
Seek nay. Going backwards.
Nay nay nay nay nay nay nay.
Kroy wen. Going backwards.
Wen wen wen wen wen wen wen.
Will they ever win again? Epon.
@Fljay073; oh please, the Rays are hurting. The Yankees are hurting and old. Players continue to find the DL and will continue to do so in the Bronx.
The Jays not only have the firepower and health to get seperation from the Rays but overtake the Yanks as well … and they have 3 games left with them. (Caveat. Yanks have an overall easier SOS, which is problematic for Toronto). We’ll see. Regards.
hopefully Herget can play this time
That would make for a nice story of resilience and determination. Jim Morris version 2. Hope Cash gets him into a game.
Criswell has been returned. Is criswell not human?
Looking at his career minor league stats, Herget looks like the rare pitcher that converted from a reliever into a starter. It goes the other way all the time, but there aren’t many to go this way.
Double header morning!!! We get Manoah pitching and O’Neill Cruz to watch. It’s a beautiful day
Manoah pulled, you get Merryweather
Booo
Springs has really boosted TB into this playoff race because the starting pitching has been pretty mediocre after mclanahan (IL) and him; no glasnow, Kluber OK and this latest resurgence of Rasmussen. Gotta think Cash’s strategy of the anti-starter, anti-closer is wearing thin
Rasmussen and Kluber have both been excellent for the Rays, the Rays offense needs to put it together and with Wander Franco back in the lineup the Rays will be tough to beat should they hold on and make the playoffs.
Cash is playing with what he has. His SP depth is horrible right now.
Fairbanks or Adam could be the closer. But why not just mix and match?
They’re doing a pretty damn good job so far.