Spring training is merely a week away and fans are starting to feel the upcoming competition in the air. There will be plenty of tension, despite the “mundaneness” of the games and the lack of importance to the outcome. Sure, the games don’t actually matter, but for players on the fence like youngsters Ben Williamson and Jacob Melton, every at-bat is vital. The analysis of those fringe players will be the thrill of this Grapefruit League “season” and with the arrival of this excitement comes some necessary updates.
Rays solidify their starting rotation with recent signing
Tampa Bay is known for their pitching, and the last few seasons haven’t dissapointed in that regard. However, there were a few question marks with the back-end of their rotation. Names like Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour floated around for the fifth spot, but they have some specific flaws that could deter them from a firm rotation spot.
After signing former Red Sox starter Steven Matz, the confidence level for this group rose, but it wasn’t until the front office snagged 35-year-old Nick Martinez, as he will easily slot into the fifth spot, if not a more advantageous role.
Rays’ reliever Manuel Rodriguez added to 60-day IL
With all good news, comes some bad news. One of the Rays’ most productive relief pitchers has joined the 60-day injured list after undergoing elbow surgery last year. On the bright side, he is well on his way to recovery after receiving the medical help he needed. However, the Rays will be without a very impactful bullpen presence for a good portion of the 2026 season.
Therefore, they’ll have to look into alternative options to fill Rodriguez’s role. One pitcher that comes to mind is left-handed reliever Joe Rock. Drafted in the second round by the Colorado Rockies, the 25-year-old still has a lot to prove. One attribute that is on his side is the fact that he is a lefty, as the only other southpaw in the bullpen is Team USA contributor Garrett Cleavinger. In 7.2 innings of work last season, Rock produced a healthy 2.35 ERA with 11 strikeouts. It will be interesting to see how the Rays solve this situtation.