The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly added another piece for their bullpen staff, inking right-hander David Robertson to a big-league deal, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
#Rays have signed reliever David Robertson to a major-league deal. Will go to AAA to get into routine.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 16, 2021
The 36-year-old reliever has not pitched in the big leagues since 2019 with the Philadelphia Phillies, when he went 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in seven appearances, totalling 6 2/3 innings before requiring Tommy John surgery.
Robertson worked for Team USA in the Olympic qualifiers, allowing one run on a solo homer in two innings of work. The Rays made room on their 40-man roster by moving Jeffrey Springs, who underwent knee surgery to repair a torn ACL today, to the 60-day injured list.
As Topkin said in his tweet, Robertson will report to Triple-A Durham in order to get into a routine.
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.
