The Tampa Bay Rays have brought back a long-time part of the starting rotation to help bolster its depth, signing right-hander Jake Odorizzi to a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to big league Spring Training.
The 33-year-old has spent five of his 11 major league seasons in Tampa Bay, coming to the Rays in the deal that sent James Shields to Kansas City. Amassing a record of 40-37 and an earned run average of 3.82 in 124 starts, he would be traded to the Minnesota Twins during Spring Training of 2018. He would also pitch for the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, but missed the 2023 campaign as a member of the Texas Rangers after undergoing shoulder debridement surgery.
The one-time All-Star holds a career record of 74-69 with a 3.99 ERA.
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.
