UPDATE 2:00 pm: The Rays have made the signing of Diekman official, and Anderson has officially been designated for assignment.
Original Story: The Tampa Bay Rays are expected to announce the signing of left-hander Jake Diekman to a deal to help shore up the bullpen after the season-ending knee injury to Garrett Cleavinger, but that means a player will have to lose his spot. And it appears the newest member of the bullpen will be the one let go.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting that the Rays are expected to designate pitcher Chase Anderson for assignment in order to open a roster spot for Diekman.
Rays DFA’ing Chase Anderson after 5 scoreless innings. Apparently making room for Jake Diekman.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 10, 2023
Anderson worked a pair of scoreless innings in Tuesday night’s loss in Baltimore. That came on the heels of the 35-year-old earning his first big-league save last week after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds.
Diekman was released by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday after posing a 0-1 record and a 7.94 ERA in 13 appearances.
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.
