The Tampa Bay Rays made a handful of roster moves on Tuesday, signing left-hander Dietrich Enns to a minor league contract and adding him to the 60-man player pool, acquiring right-hander Edgar Garcia from the Philadelphia Phillies, creating space on the 40-man roster for Garcia by designating Daniel Roberston for assignment, and announcing that left-hander Brendan McKay will undergo shoulder surgery.
Dietrich Enns
Enns was originally a 19th-round draft pick for the Yankees in the 2012 draft and compiled a 3.40 ERA/2.48 K:BB/8.3 K:9 across 667-1/3 career minor league innings with the Yankees, Twins, and Padres. He was promoted for a cup of coffee in 2017 with Minnesota when he tossed four combined innings across two games. Enns relies primarily on a 90 mph four-seam fastball with good “rising” action and a little arm-side movement, and an 80 mph slider, while also mixing in an 82 mph extreme fly-ball changeup with a lot of backspin.
He has worked mostly as a starter throughout his career and the Rays could conceivably use him in that role, although they are more likely to use him as a reliever should he get promoted.
Edgar Garcia
Garcia was designated for assignment late last week. The 23-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut last season, tossing 39 innings out of the Phillies bullpen and posting 5.77 ERA/6.57 FIP/1.73 K:BB/10.4 K:9. Keeping the ball in the park and giving away free passes were Garcia’s biggest issues in 2019, as he gave up 11 long balls and walked 26.
To his credit, Garcia has posted some solid numbers in the minor leagues — a 3.43 ERA/3.27 K:BB rate/9.3 K:9 over 301-1/3 innings in Philadelphia’s farm system.
Kevin Cash thinks there could be some potential for Garcia in the bullpen.
I really don’t know a ton about him. I know he’s a young right-hander that our guys like and does some interesting stuff. He has shown the ability to strike some people out, can pitch with his slider, but we’re looking forward to getting him to Port Charlotte and check him out and see how he’s doing. I know he’s had four or five days of downtime so we have to get him ramped up again.
— Kevin Cash
Garcia relies primarily on a 92 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in a whiffy 84 mph 12-6 slider which he throws 49% of the time, and a firm 86 mph changeup with a lot of backspin.
As Juan Toribio (MLB.com) writes, the slider is his clear putaway pitch, although it can be hittable at times.
(Garcia) recorded 31 of his 45 strikeouts on the pitch. The 23-year-old held opposing hitters to a .222 average against the slider. He did, however, allow four home runs on the pitch.
While the slider is García’s best pitch, he will have to continue to improve his fastball command. García threw his four-seamer 43 percent of the time last season — averaging 93.8 mph — and opposing hitters finished with a .327 average and an average exit velocity of 90.8 mph.
— Juan Toribio
Daniel Robertson
Not too long ago Robertson was considered to be a valuable utility player on a team that appreciates flexibility. He even began to show well at the plate, slashing .262 BA/.382 OBP/.415 SLG/.797 OPS over 340 plate appearances in 2018. However, a thumb injury shortened that season while a knee problem hampered Robertson a season ago. Meanwhile, Willy Adames took over at shortstop, Brandon Lowe received a long-term contract, and Joey Wendle and Mike Brosseau surpassed D-Rob as utility depth.
In short, Robertson was squeezed out of a position on the roster.
I think to Robertson’s credit, he played a lot last year, pretty banged up. That didn’t help. With him being banged up, I think it presented some opportunities for players, whether it was Brandon or Mike Brosseau that came in and played well. That’s not a knock to Robbie. We appreciate all of his efforts and while he was active, he helped us win games.
— Kevin Cash
Brendan McKay
Brendan McKay will undergo left shoulder surgery on Wednesday and miss the balance of the 2020 season. While a recovery timeline isn’t yet known, the team hopes McKay will be ready for the start of Spring Training.
It’s tough. Anytime you cut your depth for those kinds of reasons, it’s tough. It presents an opportunity for somebody else, but we certainly know that Brendan was going to help us win games. And he will. He’ll get back to that, but it’s just not going to happen this year.
We’re optimistic with the procedure that Brendan will have that hopefully we’ll have him for 2021 Spring Training and go from there. There’s no doubt that it’s unfortunate for him, for us, because we probably would’ve been using him, but the shoulder never cooperated for him.
— Kevin Cash
It’s been a strange season for McKay, who was shut down last week. Prior to that, he had tested positive COVID-19 test which sidelined him for all of the Rays’ Summer Camp less one day. Once he was cleared to return, the left-hander tossed a couple of bullpen sessions and simulated games, however, shoulder discomfort began to creep up on McKay once again.
It still is not certain what the problem is for McKay, although the shoulder issues have plagued him since last season.
Noteworthiness
— More bad news for the Rays’ beleaguered pitching staff which has been injury bitten. José Alvarado, who was placed on the Injured List with left shoulder inflammation on Saturday, was officially diagnosed with a lat strain after a doctor’s visit in New York on Monday which necessitated more tests. Rays skipper Kevin Cash said he will be shut down for 10 to 14 days.
It appeared to be like a lat strain. So we’ll probably have to take the ball out of his hand for a little while.
— Kevin Cash