The final spot the Tampa Bay Rays may need in order to protect prospects from the Rule 5 Draft may have just been cleared, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Rays have traded pitcher Brent Honeywell Jr. to the Oakland Athletics.
Right-hander Brent Honeywell is headed to the Oakland A’s in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 19, 2021
According to Athletics beat writer Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury-News, Tampa Bay will not receive any players in return for Honeywell, only cash.
No A’s players are headed to Tampa Bay in the trade, I’m told. Just cash. https://t.co/AtrH9kNIWb
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) November 19, 2021
After missing three full seasons due to multiple elbow surgeries, Honeywell finally made his big-league debut on April 11. He pitched in three games at the big-league level, compiling no record and a 8.31 earned run average, giving up four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings.
The 26-year-old was at one point the Rays top pitching prospect, but he was going into 2022 out of options and unlikely to be a part of Tampa Bay’s starting rotation.
The Rays have not confirmed the trade, but the 40-man roster would sit at 36.