The Tampa Bay Rays subtracted from its starting rotation Wednesday, trading right-handed Aaron Civale to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor-league shortstop Gregory Barrios.
Civale was acquired by the Rays at the trade deadline last season from the Cleveland Guardians to help shore up the rotation after losing Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen to season-ending elbow surgeries. But the 29-year-old struggled during his time with Tampa Bay. He went 4-9 in 27 starts, with a ERA of 5.17 as a member of the Rays.
Barrios is a 20-year-old infielder from Venezuela. In 60 games with High-A Wisconsin of the Midwest League, he has hit .317/.361/.423 with one homer and 34 RBI. He will report to the Rays high-A affiliate in Bowling Green.
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.
