Player News

• Rays' Jake Odorizzi: Headed to Triple-A

  03/27/2024 • By RotoWire

  Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Odorizzi has been reassigned to Triple-A Durham to begin the season, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. Odorizzi signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on March 15 and didn't have sufficient time to make a case for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but the organization isn't closing the door on him filling a starting role with the big club once he's fully stretched out. According to Cash, Odorizzi will make his first start with Durham on Tuesday, and the Rays will go "start-to-start" with him in the minors before deciding if or when he'll be called up. The 34-year-old Odorizzi owns a lifetime 3.99 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 1,253.1 innings in the majors, but his outlook is murky after he missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Rays' Jake Odorizzi: Pitching in Tuesday's game

  03/26/2024 • By RotoWire

  Odorizzi will pitch in Tuesday's game versus the Tigers rather than a minor-league game Wednesday as initially scheduled, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The Rays decided Tuesday's contest would be a truer test as to how close the veteran right-hander is to being ready to pitch in a regular-season game with the big club. Odorizzi missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and will begin 2024 in the minors. However, if he looks sharp, he could join the Rays sooner rather than later, particularly since there is a need in the rotation with Shane Baz (elbow) or Taj Bradley (pectoral) out.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Rays' Jake Odorizzi: Not in line for Opening Day roster

  03/25/2024 • By RotoWire

  Odorizzi won't be included on the Rays' Opening Day roster with Tampa Bay expected to begin the season with Tyler Alexander as the No. 5 option in its rotation, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports. Odorizzi is fully healthy again after missing the entire 2023 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, but after he had been a free agent all offseason until signing a minor-league deal with the Rays on March 15, he didn't have sufficient time to make a case for the final spot in the big-league rotation. The right-hander's next steps remain unclear, but he could elect to continue ramping up at the Rays' extended spring training facility over the next few weeks with the hope of eventually gaining consideration for the big-league roster. If Alexander falters in his role as a No. 5 starter/bulk reliever, long reliever Jacob Waguespack would likely be next in line before Odorizzi to fill the void, at least until either of Shane Baz (elbow) or Taj Bradley (pectoral) is cleared to return from the injured list.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Rays' Jake Odorizzi: Back with Tampa Bay

  03/15/2024 • By RotoWire

  Odorizzi agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rays on Friday that includes an invite to big-league camp. The veteran right-hander was with the Rays from 2013 to 2017 and will rejoin the organization after sitting out last season while recovering from shoulder surgery. Odorizzi made 22 starts in 2022 split between Houston and Atlanta and had a 4.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 86:35 K:BB across 106.1 innings.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE

• Jake Odorizzi: Throwing without restrictions

  02/12/2024 • By RotoWire

  Odorizzi (shoulder) has been throwing off a mound without restrictions and hopes to sign with a team in the coming weeks, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. Odorizzi didn't pitch last season, having undergone an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his right shoulder last April. He appears to be fully recovered, though, and has thrown for scouts from 10-to-12 interested clubs, per Morosi. The 33-year-old posted a 4.40 ERA and 86:35 K:BB over 106.1 innings covering 22 starts with Houston and Atlanta in 2022.

  SEE FULL ARTICLE