As our old friend Dave Wills likes to say, “When you think you’ve brought in enough arms, go get some more.”
With Spring Training scheduled to begin Thursday, we’ve got five free agent relief pitchers that Rays general manager Erik Neander can perhaps bring aboard on either a bargain major-league deal or a minor-league deal with an opportunity to possibly make the club out of camp. We’ll also rate the likelihood on a scale of 1-10 as to whether they would be willing to come to Port Charlotte.
RHP Oliver Drake
2020 record: 0-2, 5.73 ERA in 11 appearances with Rays
Drake’s 2019 season with Tampa Bay was tremendous, and he was expected to be a big part of the Rays bullpen in 2020. But after a pair of saves to start the year, he allowed runs in three straight appearances and ended up going on the injured list for over a month with a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow. Upon his return, he had four scoreless innings, but also had a rough outings which continued to inflate his ERA. He made one appearance in the postseason, a scoreless eighth inning in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Yankees, before being designated for assignment and electing free agency. Drake’s forte has been his success against left-handed hitters, but if he could return to the level we saw in 2019, he could be a huge asset.
Chance for a deal: 8/10
RHP Brad Boxberger
2020 record: 1-0, 3.00 ERA in 23 appearances with Marlins
Boxberger’s strong spring and summer camp with Miami allowed him to make the team after signing a minor-league deal with the Marlins, and he rewarded Don Mattingly with a workman-like year in 2020 after a foundering 2019 campaign that saw him go from Kansas City to Washington and then Cincinnati before spending the last two months of the season at home. Boxberger’s most successful years came at Tropicana Field, including his only All-Star appearance in 2015, when he led the American League with 41 saves. Brad’s not the same pitcher he was six years ago, but Kevin Cash doesn’t need him to work the ninth inning anymore either.
Chance for a deal: 7/10
RHP David Robertson
2020 record: Did not pitch (Tommy John surgery)
After missing all of 2020 due to UCL repair, Robertson threw for a large number of teams and looked good doing so Thursday in Alabama according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. He turns 36 just after Opening Day, but that likely won’t stop teams from giving him more than just a “show me” type of deal. He’s likely out of the Rays’ price range, but I’ve learned to never say never.
Chance for a deal: 0.000001/10
RHP Trevor Rosenthal
2020 record: 1-0, 1.90 ERA, 11 saves in 23 appearances with Royals and Padres
Rosenthal regained the form that made him one of the most intimidating closers of the early to mid-2010s last year. He posted a career best 14.5 K/9 rate and walked just eight batters all season, including just a single walk after going from Kansas City to San Diego. However, I’m sure plenty of general managers will remember how Rosenthal had trouble throwing a strike for a good part of 2019, and will have at least some reservations in giving him a substantial raise from the $2 million deal he got last year. Would the 30-year-old want to play at Tropicana Field with old teammate Michael Wacha? It might take that and then some in order to see him with Tampa Bay.
Chance for a deal: 3/10
RHP Jeremy Jeffress
2020 record: 4-1, 1.54 ERA, 8 saves in 22 appearances with Cubs
David Ross turned to Jeffress in mid-August when Craig Kimbrel struggled in the closer’s role, and the right-hander responded, saving seven of nine opportunities and helping get Chicago, who struggled all year offensively, into the postseason. But don’t let the gaudy ERA fool you. Jeffress’ FIP was over 2.5 runs higher than his ERA (4.09 versus 1.54), showing that the 32-year old got a lot of help from his defense. Jeffress has had some stinkers in recent years — remember his stint with the Rangers in 2017 — but can still put up gems. A lot of his success has come in the NL Central, and I expect him to stay there.
Chance for a deal: 2/10
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
