The Tampa Bay Rays made a pair of deals Wednesday while at the Winter Meetings in San Diego, moving reliever Brooks Raley to the New York Mets in exchange for minor-league pitcher Keyshawn Askew, and picking up right-hander Kevin Kelly from the Colorado Rockies for cash considerations.
Raley, who signed a two-year deal with the Rays last off-season, appeared in 60 games out of the bullpen in 2022, going 1-2 with six games and a 2.38 earned run average. the 34-year-old has made 153 big league appearances in five seasons, with a career record of 4-8 and a 4.64 ERA.
Askew was drafted in the 10th round of the 2021 draft by the Mte s out of Clemson University. He made 18 appearances, including eight starts, between Low-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn in 2022, amassing a perfect 5-0 record and a 2.44 ERA. He struck out 92 batters in 69 1/3 inning while issuing just 28 walks.
Kelly, who the Rockies had selected in the Rule 5 Draft Wednesday from the Cleveland Guardiuans, spent 2022 between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, compiling a record of 5-2 with a 2.04 ERA in 48 appearances, striking out 75 and walking 22 in 57 1/3 innings. Because he was selected in the Rule 5 Draft, Kelly must remain on the Rays active major-league roster for an entire season or be offered back to Cleveland.
The roster remains at the 40-man limit, with at least one more move to be announced in order to be able to add pitcher Zach Eflin, who agreed to a three-year, $40 million free agent deal last week.