Despite being unable to make deals with big league players, the Tampa Bay Rays were able to bring back a piece of their bullpen that helped win 100 games in 2021, as right-handed Chris Mazza announced on Twitter that he had agreed to a minor-league deal with the team.
Happy to announce that I have officially signed back with the @raysbaseball 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 #RaysUp #tampabay #WeBallin ⚾️⚾️⚾️ pic.twitter.com/NMbOuJOCNq
— Chris Mazza (@ChrisMazza10) January 8, 2022
The 32-year-old appeared in 14 games with the Rays last season compiling no record with a 4.61 earned run average and a save in 27 1/3 innings of work. He also made 36 appearances for Triple-A Durham, going 4-1 with a 3.16 ERA.
He was acquired by the Rays from the Boston Red Sox on February 17, 2021 along with left-handler Jeffrey Springs in exchange for minor-league catcher Ronaldo Hernandez. He was designated for assignment after the season, and after being out righted off the 40-man roster, became a minor-league free agent.
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.
