The Tampa Bay Rays placed five pitchers on outright waivers earlier this week in preparation for bringing their 40-man roster in order.
Left-hander Ryan Sherriff was the only pitcher claimed by another team, as he was claimed by the Philadelphia Phillies, and will now be added to their 40-man roster. The 31-year-old appeared in 16 games at the big league level in 2021, going 0-1 with a 5.52 ERA. He spent almost a month on the restricted list dealing with his mental health, and also made 32 appearances with Triple-A Durham, amassing a 5-4 record and a 2.81 ERA.
Meanwhile, relievers Cody Reed and Oliver Drake went through waivers unclaimed, and have elected to become free agents. Reed, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds a the trade deadline in 2019, made just 12 appearances in 2021 before dealing with weakness in his left hand and undergoing thoracic outlet surgery, going 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA. Drake missed the entire 2021 season after recovering from offseason elbow surgery, then dealing with a setback during his rehab.
In addition, relievers DJ Johnson and Chris Mazza were outrighted to Durham after clearing waivers, and both will become minor-league free agents on Sunday. Mazza spent six different stints with the Rays in 2021, appearing in 14 games with no record, a 4.61 ERA and a save. Johnson, who was acquired by Tampa Bay from Cleveland at the trade deadline, made just three appearances with the team, not allowing a run in 2 2/3 innings before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
The moves reduce the 40-man roster to 34.
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.
