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Rays spring notes: coronavirus, roster cuts, simulated games, and more

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The scene inside the Rays media tent in Port Charlotte.

The Tampa Bay Rays took of the Boston Red Sox, in Port Charlotte, on the first day of camp with the updated rules related to the coronavirus pandemic.

All locker rooms and clubhouses will only be open to players and essential club employees until further notice. During this period, those prohibited from the clubhouse include credentialed media, team staff, family members, guests, and outside vendors.

Players, as well as Manager Kevin Cash, said the situation is different, although they understand the nuts and bolts of the circumstances.

This is pretty unique. Everybody involved including MLB is trying to be smart about it. Educated people a heck of a lot more educated than me are making these decisions, so we go with them and we listen.

— Kevin Cash

Kevin Kiermaier said there are serious concerns among the players.

I think it’s very, very scary and you just hope we’re doing all the right things necessary to keep us out of harm’s way. Everyone throughout the whole world, the same thing.

— Kevin Kiermaier

While inconvenient, these are ultimately small steps put in place by Major League Baseball — measures that will fade once the pandemic scare is reduced.

However, bigger changes could be coming in the short-term. Some teams, like the Mariners, have been told they won’t be allowed to play games in Seattle at the start of the season. There is also increasing discussion of games being played throughout the league without fans.

It’s looking like a miracle if U.S. sports doesn’t shut down for a while, and maybe it really should

While unprecedented in the United States, sporting events in Italy have been canceled at least until the end of the month. Meanwhile, Japanese officials postponed the start of the 12-team professional baseball league season on Monday because of the spread of the coronavirus which is responsible for COVID-19.

Kiermaier, the longest-tenured Ray, said the unusual time calls for unprecedented measures.

We’re in an industry where everyone is obviously trying, our team, our organization is looking out for each and every player.

It’s wild to think about, but if that’s what it’s going to take then we have to adapt and be open with whatever is asked of us. There is no way around it. If it comes to that, then so be it. Obviously, we want to play in front of our fans and on the road. That’s just the way the game is supposed to be played. But we’ve never seen anything quite like this before.

— Kevin Kiermaier

MLB has indicated an awareness of the situation and acknowledged the “fluidity” inherent to it. One would imagine that the urgency of the matter will lead the league to take a leadership position as the dangers become all the more evident.

Prior to Wednesday’s contest, Tampa Bay announced six more roster cuts, reducing the total number of players in big-league camp to 54. The latest group includes C Rene Pinto, 1B/OF Dalton Kelly, INF Miles Mastrobuoni, OF Ryan LaMarre, and right-handed pitchers Joe Ryan and Tyler Zombro.

The updated roster is below; players designated with an asterisk are non-roster invites:

Pitchers — Jose Alvarado, Nick Anderson, Anthony Banda, Jalen Beeks, Diego Castillo, Yonny Chirinos, Dylan Covey*, John Curtiss*, Oliver Drake, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Fleming*, Sean Gilmartin*, Tyler Glasnow, Andrew Kittredge, Aaron Loup*, Shane McClanahan*, Charlie Morton, Deck McGuire*, Brendan McKay, Sam McWilliams*, Colin Poche, Brooks Pounders*, Trevor Richards, Chaz Roe, Phoenix Sanders*, Ryan Sherriff*, Aaron Slegers*, Blake Snell, DJ Snelten*, Ryan Thompson*, Ryan Yarbrough.

Catchers — Chris Herrmann*, Michael Perez, Kevan Smith,* Brett Sullivan*, Mike Zunino

Infielders — Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Nathaniel Lowe, Jose Martinez, Daniel Robertson, Taylor Walls*, Joey Wendle.

Outfielders — Randy Arozarena, Dylan Cozens*, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brian O’Grady, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo.

In exhibition game action, Tampa Bay fell to Boston 3-1 under the lights. Rays No. 7 prospect, Shane McClanahan, got the start and continued to gas the opposition — lighting up the radar gun by hitting 99 mph a handful of times and topping out at 100 mph. Yet, while his velocity is great, McClanahan says he feels he needs to be in the strike zone more frequently.

I don’t measure success by velocity. A 100 is cool but it doesn’t matter if it’s not in the zone. Just ultimately learn from it, work on it, get back out there and fill up the zone.

— Shane McClanahan

McClanahan threw 20 of 33 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate) across 1-1/3 innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one.

McClanahan gave credit to the defense for getting him out of the early jam.

Yandy (Diaz) made a great dive. Ji-Man had a hell of an effort to get back to first. Lots of good plays behind me.

— Shane McClanahan

Manager Cash said McClanahan could become a piece to the 2020 puzzle at some point this season.

You don’t see many 98 mph fastballs, with just unhittable breaking balls when they’re right in the zone. And that’s kind of what we’ve seen out of him. A lot to be excited about with him and a lot of the other guys.

— Kevin Cash

The New What Next

Brendan McKay will make his second Grapefruit League appearance — first start — Thursday afternoon against the Phillies, in Port Charlotte. José Alvarado, Chaz Roe, and Colin Poche are also slated to pitch for Tampa Bay.

Rays 3/12/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows LF
  2. Zunino C
  3. Tsutsugo DH
  4. Renfroe RF
  5. Kiermaier CF
  6. Martinez 1B
  7. Wendle SS
  8. N. Lowe 3B
  9. Robertson 2B
  10. McKay LHP

Noteworthiness

— On Tuesday, Ryan Yarbrough, Tyler Glasnow and Pete Fairbanks pitched in a simulated game on the backfields.

Yarbrough pitched to catcher Kevan Smith and faced Nate Lowe, Mike Zunino, and Daniel Robertson. He worked four innings and threw 60 pitches (40 strikes, 67% strike rate).

Cash was impressed by what he saw.

His ball moves everywhere. The late movement that he can create is really, really impressive. You understand why he’s had so much success in his first two seasons.

— Kevin Cash

Glasnow pitched to Zunino and faced Lowe, Smith, and Robertson, pitching three innings and throwing 50 pitches (27 strikes, 54% strike rate). Fairbanks also pitched to Zunino and faced Lowe, Smith and Robertson. Fairbanks pitched one frame and threw 21 pitches (14 strikes, 67% strike rate).

— Blake Snell is slated to throw a simulated game Saturday in Port Charlotte since he was lined up to face the Blue Jays three consecutive times.

LBWMF: Morton throws a simulated game, the Rays tie the Pirates, and the first roster moves are announced

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Guillermo Heredia’s legs weren’t the only things tied up by the end of Sunday’s 2-2 ballgame against the Pirates, on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

While the Tampa Bay Rays played an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, resulting in a 2-2 tie, Charlie Morton got in a 60+ pitch simulated ballgame on the backfields of Charlotte Sports Park.

Morton got four ups and downs — the equivalent of four innings of work — and threw more than 60 pitches while facing his teammates in the simulated game. The right-hander felt that while he got in more work than he anticipated, that work was productive.

My second up, I couldn’t throw a strike and that gave me an opportunity to make some corrections, which I did.

— Charlie Morton

Kyle Snyder was behind Morton, voicing any concerns that popped up given that “some bad habits you can get to (and fix) early,” Morton said.

Morton was able to increase his pitch count and use all four pitches without worry that the Pirates, whom the Rays will face on March 26th — and who they squared off against on Sunday — would catch on.

Morton will throw a five-inning/75-pitch simulated game his next time out followed by one last Grapefruit League outing before his likely first Opening Day start in his 13-year career.

It’d be special. It’s an honor. It’s something that most guys will tell you that they’d like to do it at least once.

— Charlie Morton

Meanwhile, Josh Fleming, the Montgomery Biscuits’ MVP last season, made the start against the Pirates. Fleming allowed a run on a walk and a bloop single across three innings of work. He struck out two and threw 37 pitches (23 strikes, 62% strike rate).

He’s going to be a fun guy to follow this year. He can really pitch, he can really change speeds, and he uses both sides of the plate. He’s confident throwing off-speed pitches at any time in the count.

— Kevin Cash

Relievers Nick Anderson and Oliver Drake each threw scoreless frames. Anderson told Neil Solondz he feels good about where he is this spring.

Just working on stuff every day, trying to get comfortable on the mound again. Getting out there frequently and feeling better.

— Nick Anderson

You can hear Anderson’s interview in its entirety on the SoundCloud player below, courtesy of Rays Radio.

Prior to the start of Sunday’s contest, Tampa Bay made its first cuts of the spring, reducing the spring roster from 67 to 60. All of the moves were expected.

The Rays optioned Lucius Fox, Vidal Brujan, Ronaldo Hernandez, Kevin Padlo, and Brent Honeywell. Right-handers Paul Campbell and Tristan Gray were reassigned to minor league camp.

I think all those guys made really good impressions. All were positive conversations and time for them to get down there.

— Kevin Cash

Honeywell has been throwing bullpens as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery and a fracture in his throwing arm. Campbell was delayed due to injury at the start of camp, while Padlo was absent from camp for a couple of weeks due to severe headaches that are being controlled with medication.

Manager Kevin Cash was especially impressed by Brujan and Fox.

Brujan’s really athletic, can play second and short, and shows a knack at the plate. I think Lucius the same way. We challenged him a little bit, sticking him in the outfield. He seemed to be comfortable with that.

— Kevin Cash

With minor-league Spring Training contests still about a week away, more roster cuts can be expected over the next few days.

The New What Next

Blake Snell will take the mound on Monday, in Dunedin, a little over a week after receiving a cortisone shot in his left elbow. He’ll be opposed by the Blue Jays’ ace, lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Rays 3/9/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo 3B
  2. Martínez 1B
  3. Kiermaier CF
  4. Adames SS
  5. Wendle 2B
  6. Robertson DH
  7. Perez C
  8. LaMarre LF
  9. O’Grady RF
  10. Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Yoshi Tsutsugo will make his first start away from the Charlotte Sports Park on Monday.

Tsutsugo is slated to play third base against the Blue Jays — making his fourth start at the hot corner. Tsutsugo has put together a solid spring thus far, slashing .250 BA/.348 OBP/.450 SLG/.798 OPS with a home run and three RBI while splitting time between third base and left field.

— After throwing an impressive scoreless inning on Friday, two-way player Brendan McKay will make his first spring start on Thursday against the Phillies. McKay has yet to step into a batter’s box during an exhibition game this spring.

— The Rays and Austin Meadows have begun preliminary discussions about a potential extension. Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), both sides are open to the possibility, although talks have not yet reached the exchange-of-numbers stage. Locking up the soon-to-be 25-year-old, who slashed .291 BA/.364 OBP/.558 SLG/.922 OPS with 33 home runs, 89 RBI, and a 142 wRC+ last season, would certainly be a boon for the ball club.

Rays trade Emilio Pagan to San Diego for a pair of players

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The Tampa Bay Rays traded Emilio Pagan to the San Diego Padres on Saturday for CF Manuel Margot and prospect Logan Driscoll.

Following another successful Fan Fest at Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Emilio Pagan to the San Diego Padres for CF Manuel Margot and prospect Logan Driscoll. Both teams added strength to their respective rosters, with the Rays getting an elite defensive centerfielder to back up Kevin Kiermaier, while San Diego added another weapon to its already strong bullpen.

Pagan will join incumbent closer, and former Ray, Kirby Yates as well as Andres Munoz, the 21-year-old flamethrower. The Padres will be Pagan’s fourth team in as many seasons after stints in Seattle, Oakland, and Tampa Bay.

2019 was his most successful campaign to date, as he collected career-bests in K/9 (12.34%), ground ball rate (34%), xFIP (3.15) and fWAR (1.5). The right-hander served as the Rays de facto closer last season, notching 20 saves in 66 games with a 2.31 ERA/3.30 FIP, besting his overall career numbers.

The ever intrepid Joel Four Bases dug into the numbers following the trade, noting a possible motive for the deal involving a critical piece of last season’s bullpen.

Tampa Bay will turn to Diego Castillo, Nick Anderson, Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake, Colin Poche, Jose Alvarado ⁠— assuming he’s back to form after a 2019 campaign riddled with injuries and familial concerns ⁠— and Peter Fairbanks, if he’s ready.

Margot, 25, is an elite defensive, albeit light-hitting, centerfielder ranking in the 97th percentile in Outs Above Average, while also boasting above-average numbers in DRS (6) and UZR (5.8) UZR. He should provide the Rays with defensive certainty up the middle should Kevin Kiermaier, again, struggle to stay healthy. Offensively, Margot slashed an underwhelming .234 BA/.304 OBP/.387 SLG/.721 OPS last season, in line with his career mark of .248 BA/.301 OBP/.394 SLG/.695 OPS. Margot swiped 20 bags in 24 stolen base attempts (83.3%), the sixth-best rate in the National League.

Yet it’s a different story against southpaws, against whom he slashed .330 BA/.420 OBP/.466 SLG/.886 OPS — ranking seventh in the NL in batting average and sixth in on-base percentage (minimum of 100 at-bats).

As Scott Grauer (DRaysBay) writes of Driscoll, 22, he was the No. 73 pick in the 2019 draft. In its predraft scouting report, Baseball America noted the left-handed hitting catcher was known for his solid defense (BA $). He also spent a number of games in right field, showing the versatility that the Rays value. In the Northwest League — equivalent to the New York-Penn League — he batted .268/.340/.458, all significantly higher than the league averages.

Rays announce signings and Spring Training invites; details on Rays Fan Fest

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The Tampa Bay Rays re-signed fleet of foot outfielder, Johnny Davis, to a Minor League deal on Monday.

With the Spring Training countdown clock winding down to February 12, when pitchers and catchers report to camp, on Monday the Tampa Bay Rays announced they have signed a pair of right-handed pitchers to minor league contracts with invites to Port Charlotte. The team also re-signed fleet of foot outfielder, Johnny Davis, to a Minor League deal. As of now, 62 players will attend Spring Training later this month.

Dylan Covey, who elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment from the White Sox, and John Curtiss, who bounced from the Twins to the Angels and to the Phillies in 2019, are the newest additions.

Last season, Covey split time between the Chicago White Sox and Triple-A Charlotte. Over the past three seasons, Covey has shown promise, however he ultimately posted rather unappealing numbers, posting a 6-29 records and a 6.24 ERA across 250-1/3 innings, with a 6.2 K/9, a 4.1 BB/9, a 1.62 HR/9, and a 50.5% ground-ball rate (ranking 10th in the AL over that stretch). During that same time stretch, Covey went 5-2 with a 2.63 ERA at Triple-A Charlotte.

Curtiss made one big-league appearance for the Angels last season, while also spending time in Triple-A Angels affiliate Salt Lake City and Phillies affiliate Lehigh Valley. The former sixth-rounder spent parts of the 2017-18 seasons with the Twins, posting an 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA across 17-1/3 relief innings. As Steve Adams (MLB Trade Rumors) noted, Curtiss was shelled in Triple-A in 2019 but was very good there in 2017-18, pitching to a combined 2.49 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings. Control has long been an issue for Curtiss, though, as even in that solid 2017-18 run in Triple-A, he issued 41 free passes (4.6 BB/9).

Davis, 29, was plucked out of the Mexican League last August and rushed to the big leagues as a September call-up/pinch-running specialist. The outfielder had a strong campaign in Mexico, slashing .300 BA/.353 OBP/.392 SLG/.745 OPS while swiping 54 bases. Davis was used as a pinch-runner six times last season and twice as a defensive replacement. He has 142 steals over parts of seven minor league seasons and is a career .265 hitter with a .646 OPS.

Davis did not earn an invitation to MLB camp as a total of 15 players already under contract had been invited including pitchers Paul Campbell, Josh Fleming, Shane McClanahan, Sam McWilliams, Joe Ryan, Phoenix Sanders, Ryan Sherriff, Ryan Thompson, and Tyler Zombro. Outfielder Dylan Cozens, infielder Tristan Gray, first baseman/outfielder Dalton Kelly, infielder/outfielder Miles Mastrobuoni, catcher/outfielder Brett Sullivan, and infielder Taylor Walls have been invited as well.

Of the 62 players that received an invitation to Spring Training, 32 are pitchers, six are catchers, 15 are infielders, and nine are outfielders.

Rays Fan Fest

Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest is also just around the corner is, and will take place Saturday, February 8 inside of Tropicana Field. The Rays released details on Fan Fest, which you can read below:

…This year’s Fan Fest will again be held on the field and include the Charity Yard Sale and Clubhouse Corner retail sites, which benefit the Rays Baseball Foundation, as well as clubhouse tours, youth clinics and panels with executives and coaches. Upon entry to Fan Fest, all fans will receive a License Plate Frame, presented by the Florida Department of Transportation, while supplies last.

“We are excited to welcome everyone to Tropicana Field for Fan Fest on February 8,” said Rays President Brian Auld. “I know many of us are still energized from the postseason run in 2019, and eager for the 2020 Rays to make more history. Fan Fest is a great way to kickoff the 2020 season with a family-friendly affair for all baseball fans.”

As a continuation of last year’s entry process, free tickets are required for access to Fan Fest. Tickets can be claimed on the Ballpark app and scanned from a mobile device for entry. All fans 18 years and older must have a mobile ticket for entry. Children 17 years and under do not need a ticket to attend Fan Fest.

Rays Season Ticket Holders receive exclusive benefits at Fan Fest, including early access through The Outfielder entrance near Gate 7 and special programming in the Season Ticket Holder-only Republic Bank Draft Room, such as photo stations with Rays players and coaches and new menu item sampling.

Rays Season Ticket Holders also have the first chance to purchase autograph passes for select players. Autograph passes are $25 each, with a limit of four (4) autograph passes per player. Season Ticket Holders and Rays email newsletter subscribers, called Rays Insiders, will receive emails with information about their special early access to autograph passes. All other fans can purchase autograph passes in the Ballpark app or at RaysBaseball.com/fanfest starting today at 4 p.m. The following players are scheduled to sign autographs (subject to change): Willy Adames, Tyler Glasnow, Brandon Lowe, Austin Meadows, Charlie Morton, Blake Snell and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo. All proceeds from autograph pass sales benefit the Rays Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, which focuses on youth and educational programming that make a measurable difference in the Tampa Bay region.

— Rays Press Release

The free tickets can be downloaded from the MLB Ballpark app, or via this link.

Rays, Cards swap four players; Chaz Roe arbitration news

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On Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays traded a pair of prospects to the St. Louis Cardinals for José Martínez and Randy Arozarena.

The Tampa Bay and St. Louis completed a four-player trade on Thursday, with the Rays acquiring first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter José Martínez, outfielder Randy Arozarena, and the Cardinals’ Competitive Balance Round A draft pick in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore, lower level catching prospect Edgardo Rodriguez, and the Rays’ pick in Competitive Balance Round B draft pick. The Rays had been searching for outfield depth, not to mention right-handed hitting, and they filled those needs with Martínez and Arozarena.

Tampa Bay had been interested in Martínez, 31, for quite a while now. Granted he does come with longstanding defensive concerns — he recorded -9 Outs Above Average (OAA) in rightfield last season according to StatCast — yet he has the makings of an ideal DH candidate. The right-handed hitting Martínez will join the southpaw hitting Nate Lowe, Ji-Man Choi, and the recently-signed Yoshitomo Tsutsugo in the first base/DH mix.

Martínez boasts a career .298 OPS/.363 OBP/.458 SLG/.821 OPS slash line with a 122 wRC+. He, however, is coming off a career-worst .269 BA/.340 OBP/.410 SLG/.750 OPS campaign with a 101 wRC+ across 373 plate appearances — just 1% better than the league average. Yet, Steamer projects a bounceback season for the right-handed hitter in 2020, closer to his career line, with the projection system expecting a .280 BA/.346 OBP/.440 SLG/.786 OPS over 243 plate appearances, and a modest 108 wRC+.

It fails to be seen how the Rays will adjust the lineup to include Martínez, although his primary role seems fairly cut and dry: he will likely be called upon to face left-handed pitching. He has slashed a beastly .331 BA/.405 OBP/.570 SLG/1.175 OPS line with 15 homers over 298 career plate appearances against southpaws.

Another reason the Rays targeted Martínez: he is known to hit the ball on the screws, owning an impressive career-average exit velocity of 90.0 mph.

With fielding no longer a concern, the Rays are hoping that Martinez can concentrate fully on being a productive force at the plate.

Arozarena looks to take over the platoon role vacated by Guillermo Heredia. He enters having collected some strong hitting numbers in Cuba, the minor leagues, and in his brief 19-game/23-plate appearance cameo with St. Louis last season (and three more plate appearances in the National League Division Series).

A 2016 international signing, Arozarena has accrued an impressive .292 BA/.377 OBP/.477 SLG/.855 OPS line across 1302 minor league plate appearances, with 38 home runs.

Dominik Vega (DRaysBay) took a look at Arozarena following news of the trade, writing:

Arozarena’s MLB exit velocity in 2019 averaged 90.7 mph, but with only 16 batted balls, that number should not be taken at face value. Instead, his 15 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2019 should do the talking. While not known as a prospect with power, Arozarena has shown the ability to hit line drives and stretch them into extra-base-hits while in the minors.

When he does hit the ball in the air, Arozarena has shown some sneaky raw power to his pull side, and he hit all 12 of his home runs to left field in 2018.

MLB Pipeline

Since 2017, Arozarena has a career OPS of 1.004 against lefties in the minors, spanning over 300 PAs. The Cardinals’ outfield is full of young players and finding Arozarena time was going to be difficult for them in 2020, making him expendable.

A strong spring put Arozarena in mind with the big league staff, and the team has long viewed him as a fourth or fifth outfielder in the majors. Now they’re seeing even more.

Derrick Goold, BaseballAmerica

Even with concerns about Arozarena’s aggressiveness at the plate and on the base paths, he has the ability to make swift adjustments in the box which clearly has shown to bear fruit at every level. His plate approach, paired with an elite 29.4 feet per second speed, makes him an apt centerfield option on days when Kevin Kiermaier needs some time off his feet.

Noteworthiness

— With the arbitration deadline looming at 1:00 PM Friday afternoon, Jeff Passan (ESPN) announced a $2,185,200 agreement between RHP Chaz Roe and the team. That is in line with MLB Trade Rumors projected salary of $2.2-Million. 2020 marks the penultimate arbitration-eligible season for Roe.

The Rays have until the deadline to terms with four other players (projected salaries are in parentheses):

Oliver Drake ($1.1-Million)

Tyler Glasnow ($1.9-Million)

Hunter Renfroe ($3.4-Million)

Daniel Robertson ($1.1-Million)