Earlier today, the Rays announced that they had placed left-hander Garrett Cleavinger on the 15-day injured list with a right knee sprain and recalled right-hander Trevor Kelley in a corresponding move. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times now reports that Cleavinger has an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament and is likely out for the season.
Cleavinger departed yesterday’s game against the Yankees after appearing to hurt himself while trying to tag out Aaron Hicks during a rundown (Twitter video courtesy of Bally Sports Sun: Rays). It seemed likely that the lefty would have to miss some time but he now seems to be facing a significant absence that is obviously a rough development for both him and the team.
The 29-year-old southpaw has bounced around the league in his career, having been drafted by the Orioles but getting flipped to the Phillies in the 2017 trade that sent Jeremy Hellickson to Baltimore. He made his major league debut with the Phils in 2020 but got into just one game and then was flipped to the Dodgers in the offseason. He spent the next couple of years as a frequently-optioned depth arm for the Dodgers but was traded to the Rays at the 2022 deadline, likely at least partially motivated by the fact that he would be out of options in 2023.
Amid all those transactions, he’s managed to get into 55 games over the past four seasons with a combined 3.52 ERA in that time. His 29.8% strikeout rate is quite strong but he’s also walked 11% of batters faced. He was posting similar results this year, with an ERA of 3.00 along with a 29.2% strikeout rate and 12.5% walk rate. He’s already on the 15-day IL but will surely be transferred to the 60-day whenever the club needs his roster spot. He will continue to a major league salary and service time for the remainder of the schedule.
As for the Rays, they will now proceed without Cleavinger in the bullpen, leaving Colin Poche and Jalen Beeks as their left-handed relief options. Josh Fleming is also in the mix though he’s been working more as a bulk guy behind an opener as opposed to a more traditional reliever.
I don’t know how Cleavinger and Beeks keep getting put in games. Both seem to either blow or almost blow all their close games. Then again, the Rays have 1/6th of the Mets payroll and are a twice as better team. Would be nice to see the Rays go after some real players at their weak positions like starting pitching and CF/Catcher
Weak in starting pitching? When Glasnow comes back they have the best rotation in baseball… and already do. They have a top 3 Defensive CF and he’s average hitter which was better than KK the past few years. And their catcher happened to be the one who hit a game tying 3 run HR off Cole yesterday….. soooo
He had to have been kidding, no one is that blind.
When a team goes 28-7, you have to squint really hard to find stuff to complain about. When you’re a Mets fan, it’s a daily habit.
That top 5 would’ve been insane if Springs didn’t go down.
Springs,Baz,Bradley add to the fun for next year
Please don’t forget Colin Poche. Always exciting when he enters a game. His WHIP around 1.5.
Catcher and cf “could” be better. Starting pitching, do you even watch baseball?
Your not going to win a championship with Jose Siri at CF and Francisco Mejia batting .170 at catcher. Their starting pitching isn’t that good, its been their offense and relief staff that has been carrying the team. Mclanahan has been great. Honestly everyone else has been mediocre. I know Glasnow is out but he always gets hurt, he shouldnt be who you rely on
You worry to much about other teams when your team is a pathetic 400 million dollar dumpster fire
@Mrsuntan thats where your wrong. I already know the Mets are a 400 million dollar dumpster fire, I complain about them on almost every thread. Your comment proves my point. Try to keep up
I dont spend my life on here following EVERY thread,try to get a life
Interesting take considering their SP leads MLB in most categories. And I know this is hard for big payroll teams to understand but you can go light on a bat if the defense saves a lot of runs which Siri does. And Mejia is not the starting catcher sooo again this is all nonsense. The starting pitching has been amazing besides the 2 holes we have open from injuries and even they have been pretty decent besides the Yankees start a day ago. With glasnow on the mend and Bradley continuing to grow and eflin being healthy again… the bullpen is the only weak link
@kc38 consistentcy is key. I think me and you have different view point of their starting rotation. Their starters are pitching well right now, but will it last over a full season? Thats where we disagree. I don’t see guys like Eflin and Chirinos continuing to do nearly as well as they have been. I don’t think Bradley is any good from what I’ve seen from him. Glasnow gets injured too much, can’t rely on him. If I was the Rays GM, I would do anything I can to land an ace to pair with McLanahan. The most notable starter that could be available is probably Giolito at this point. Its too early to tell who is willing to be sellers yet. If the Rays wanted to make a big splash, a potential Shohei Ohtani trade would automatically make them the team to beat
Laughable at best.
I’m gonna take it as you’re trolling or the least intelligent baseball fan I’ve ever heard from. Bradly came up and shoved and has since struggled in AAA but it’s because it’s working on specific things and not worrying about overall results. Chirinos doesn’t need to be very good as he’s the 5th starter and you don’t need 5 starters in the playoffs anyways. Honestly worst analysis of the rays I’ve seen… glasnow when healthy is better than any pitcher available and yes that’s a big what if but Rasmussen is also very strong. I assure you the Rays didn’t hand out the biggest FA deal in franchise history on someone they didn’t think they could make elite, so I’m not sure id bet against eflin.
Too much***
Not to much. Or two much. Too much.
And you’re supposed to apply the SPF30 to your skin, buddy. Not drink it.
So you just drop in occasionally to insult people and tell them what to do.
Got it. Enjoy those UV rays, buddy.
Enjoy those stankees..last place or bust!
Like I said,, you just drop in occasionally to insult people and try to tell them what to do.
Take your own advice. Get a life.
Its the internet, go back to your safe space.
It’s also grownups here.
Get back to the kids’ table.
Ok karen
Only weak spot on a next level team…. bullpen is really bad
It’s the Rays. They could hire new random people from a temp agency every week to be their bullpen and it’d still be top 10 by the end of the year. I wouldn’t worry.
Well that’s kinda why we are worried, normally se sign some guys in the off-season to minor league deals and we work with them and try and improve. But we didn’t do that and we don’t have those guys right now, it’s all young and out of control pitchers they are throwing in there with no experience. They’ll have Fairbanks coming back, and kittredge eventually and Armstrong. Hopefully it works out
Before trade deadline will trade upper mid tier prospects with no future with rays(Bruhan, arrez,Basbale, for a couple solid veteren arms
They’ll make the customary trip to the junk yard, pull a reliever off the heap, and turn him to gold – or at least silver – in no time. Then they cut him loose or trade him later to some shmuck GM, and he turns back into a pumpkin. This is what the Rays do.
If you eliminate home plate collisions, you should also eliminate having a runner in a rundown being able to drop suddenly to the ground, right in the path of an oncoming player, which is even more dangerous.
No doubt.. a dirty play that also had to involve the dud Aaron Hicks
That play is almost GUARANTEED to produce a high percentage of severe injuries.
if you watch the replay, you can see Hicks spin right into Cleavingers knee
Puk? Chapman? Alvarado reunion? Need some LHP help (and none ML ready on the farm)
Alvarado is much too expensive for the Rays taste and PHI isn’t gonna subtract after going to the World Series
NO CHAPMAN others maybe, but their teams are still in contention
I use my left hand. Does that count?
“Your not going to win a championship with Jose Siri at CF and Francisco Mejia batting .170 at catcher. Their starting pitching isn’t that good, its been their offense and relief staff that has been carrying the team. Mclanahan has been great. Honestly everyone else has been mediocre. I know Glasnow is out but he always gets hurt, he shouldnt be who you rely on”
Their starting pitching isn’t that good?
2022 starters vs 2023 starters
S. McClanahan 28GS 2.54 ERA 0.93 WHIP
S. McClanahan 8 G 1.80 ERA 1.13 WHIP
D. Rasmussen 28GS 2.84 ERA 1.04 WHIP
D. Rasmussen 7 GS 3.10 ERA 1.19 WHIP
J. Springs 25 GS 2.46 ERA 1.07 WHIP
J. Springs 3 GS (out) 0.52 ERA 0.50 WHIP
C. Kluber 31 GS 4.34 ERA 1.21 WHIP
Z. Eflin 13 GS 4.04 ERA 1.02 WHIP
Z. Eflin 5 GS 2.25 ERA 0.96 WHIP
Y. Chirinos 5 GS 1.86 ERA 0.78 WHIP
T. Bradley 3 GS 3.52 ERA 0.91 WHIP
LOL, It’s amazing how they have done this a medicore rotation and without Glasnow.
@lamars if you think Zach Eflin and Yonni Chirinos are going to keep up with what they have been doing all year, then sorry to break it to you but your delusional. These guys are at best 5th starters. Every team goes through dry spells. Some guys start out strong, some finish strong. Most of the pitchers you mentioned are going to have most of their stats fade by August
You also seem to forget that Rays starters barely go 5 innings which is why their stats look nice
@LFGMets
No I don’t, that still leaves them with Rasmussen, Glasnow and McClanahan. And Eflin averaged 5.6 innings per start with Philly while pitching in a hitters park with excellent control. That’s all the Rays need him to do as they have a ton of relievers that can get them to their closer.
Not taking a shot at your Mets but their rotation has been lights out compared to the Mets and probably will be going forward.
He put last years and this years stats, boss.
Your comment is baseless.