Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow last week and is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late May, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
The 26-year-old struggled through his worst season in 2013, posting a career-high 5.17 ERA and yielding a .274 OBA/.325 OBP/.450 SLG/.775 OPS line to opposing hitters. Hellickson, the Rays and agent Scott Boras all said that there were no physical ailments following the season, according to Topkin, but something flared up in his elbow when Hellickson began throwing in late January.
“The Rays have the rotation depth to overcome an injury to Hellickson, as Jake Odorizzi now seems likely to step into the rotation alongside David Price, Alex Cobb, Matt Moore and Chris Archer,” writes MLB Trade Rumors’ Steve Adams. He went on to write,
“It already appeared likely that the Rays would hang onto Price for at least one more season (contrary to what many pundits believed earlier this winter), but the loss of Hellickson may further strengthen that standpoint. The Rays have added payroll this offseason by re-signing James Loney to a three-year deal, signing Grant Balfour and acquiring Heath Bell and Ryan Hanigan (and extending the latter), so it seems unlikely that they’d shift from those win-now moves by dealing Price — especially with depleted rotation depth. As Topkin notes, Enny Romero and Alex Colome represent additional rotation options, but Colome himself is recovering from an injury.”
It’s doubtful the Rays will look to the free agent or trade market to add another starting option. With a projected payroll of roughly $76MM, including league minimum players, adding significant dollars seems unlikely. Adding a veteran with starting experience on a minor league deal could make some sense.
In other Hot-Stove news, Tampa Bay re-signed RHPR Juan Sandoval (who is blind in one eye), while also signing CF Jeremy Moore and utility man Wilson Betemit to minor league deals. All three deals include Spring Training invites, pushing the number of players attending camp to 60+ plus as of now.
Betemit spent the last two seasons in Baltimore, but was sidelined for most of 2013 with a knee injury. In 2012, Betemit posted a .261 BA/.322 OBP/.422 SLG/.744 OPS slash line in 102 games with the Orioles, primarily playing third base. Betemit is known as a decent utility man and a bat off of the bench with a serviceable glove. The 11-year veteran will be competing for a spot on the Rays’ bench.
Noteworthiness
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