Drake (elbow/neck/back) elected free agency after refusing an outright assignment to the minors Friday, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.
Drake carried an elbow injury into last season and never wound up throwing a pitch in a game at any level, as he later developed neck and back issues in midseason. He was shut down from throwing late in the year, which may make him an unappealing option in free agency heading into his age-35 season.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Currently not throwing
Rotowire
Drake (elbow/neck/back) has been completely shut down from throwing for the time being due to a neck/back issue, the team's official site reports.
Drake had been able to throw live batting practice sessions July 2 and July 7 at the Rays' spring training complex without setbacks to his elbow, but he began to be bothered by neck and back and back soreness shortly thereafter. The issues apparently haven't subsided sufficiently for Drake to be able to continue rehabbing without restriction, meaning it appears he'll head into the offseason with a murky outlook on his potential availability for spring training.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Done for season
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) won't pitch again in 2021, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Drake originally suffered a flexor strain in the ALDS last year and landed on the injured list shortly after signing with the Rays in February, and he'll end up spending the entire 2021 campaign on the shelf. It's unclear if the injury will affect his outlook heading into spring training.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Throwing again
Rotowire
Drake (elbow/neck/back) was recently cleared to resume a throwing program, but he remains without a clear target date for a return from the 60-day injured list, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Drake has been sidelined all season while recovering from a right flexor strain suffered during the 2020 playoffs, and his return timeline was pushed back in mid-July when he was shut down after experiencing recurring neck and back soreness. He appears to have moved past the latter two injuries, but he'll still require additional time to get his arm in game condition. Since Drake has yet to even begin a minor-league rehab assignment, he appears unlikely to make his 2021 debut for the Rays until September.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Suffers minor setback
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) is dealing with neck and back soreness, which has delayed the start of his rehab assignment temporarily, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
The right-hander was in line to begin a long-awaited rehab assignment with the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, but the temporary setback has derailed those plans. Assuming the soreness isn't indicative of something more serious, Drake should be ready to make his first rehab appearance in the next few days.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Rehab assignment starting Tuesday
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) is scheduled to make his first rehab appearance Tuesday with the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.
Drake is finally ready to begin the final phase of his extended recovery program from a right flexor strain, an injury he first suffered during the playoffs last fall. Tampa Bay is likely to ease the 34-year-old reliever back slowly from the injury, so he'll likely be in store for an extended rehab assignment that may not conclude until late July or early August. Over his 11 appearances for Tampa Bay in 2020, Drake posted a 5.73 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 11 innings while collecting two saves and one hold.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Rehab assignment likely imminent
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) has continued to throw to hitters in recent days and could soon start a rehab assignment, the Associated Press reports.
The right-hander has progressively been working his way back from a right flexor strain suffered last postseason, and he appears to finally be on the verge of jumping back into official game action. Drake's rehab assignment is likely to be of fairly significant duration when considering the length of his absence.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Throws simulated inning
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) threw a one-inning simulated game Friday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.
It was the righty's first time facing hitters since suffering a right flexor strain during the 2020 ALDS, and manager Kevin Cash said he plans to have Drake throw two more innings within the next few days. The Rays haven't provided any further updates on Drake's return date, so mid-July remains a realistic expectation.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Still not particularly close
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) hasn't experienced any setbacks, but he still has "got some time to wait" before starting a rehab assignment, the team's official site reports.
The characterization of Drake's timeline comes directly from manager Kevin Cash, so it would seem the veteran reliever is still a few weeks away from being deemed ready for activation. Drake has been throwing bullpen sessions intermittently since mid-May, and he could progress to facing live hitters before the end of June.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Throws first bullpen
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) is throwing his first bullpen session Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Drake suffered a flexor strain during the 2020 playoffs and has been sidelined since. He will be eligible to return from the injured list June 1, though manager Kevin Cash said that Drake is "a ways away" from returning to game action.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Lands on 60-day injured list
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Drake suffered a flexor strain during the ALDS and was waived after the season, though he wound up back with his old team in February. It's not clear exactly when he'll be back in game action, but it now won't come during the first two months of the season.
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Oliver Drake: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Drake (elbow) cleared waivers, refused an outright assignment to the alternate training site and became a free agent Wednesday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.
The right-hander was designated for assignment over the weekend and won't remain with the Rays after losing his spot on the 40-man roster. Drake converted two of four save opportunities and had a 5.73 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 7:6 K:BB over 11 innings during 2020, and he sustained a right flexor strain against the Yankees in the ALDS before being DFA'd.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Removed from playoff roster
Rotowire
Drake was removed from the Rays' ALDS roster with a flexor strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Players who are removed from the postseason roster are forced to miss the next series as well, so Drake won't be able to return for the ALCS should the Rays manage to get past the Yankees in the Division Series. He will be eligible to return for the World Series should the team make it that far, though it's not yet clear whether or not that will be possible. Trevor Richards replaces him on the ALDS roster.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) was activated from the injured list Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Drake has been sidelined since early August due to biceps tendinitis. He recorded two saves in five appearances before suffering the injury and could add to that total down the stretch, though the Rays have no interest in a true closer's role, with 10 different players saving at least one game thus far.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Won't return until next week
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) threw a simulated inning Saturday and could return for the Rays' upcoming series against the Nationals, which begins Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Drake has been out for just over a month with biceps tendinitis. Reports from earlier in the week suggested he could return over the weekend, but he's evidently a few days behind that schedule. He'll likely throw some high-leverage innings upon his return and could add to his two saves, though he won't be a true closer.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Weekend activation likely
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) threw a bullpen session at Tropicana Field on Thursday and is still expected to be activated from the injured list this coming weekend, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
The right-handed reliever continues to ramp up without setbacks. Toribio notes because Drake threw Thursday, his activation would come Saturday at the earliest.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Set for evaluation
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) is set to be reevaluated Thursday and could be ready to return by this coming weekend, the Associated Press reports.
Drake was deemed to be about a week away from a return Friday, so this latest report keeps that timeline a possibility. The right-hander has most recently been building up his arm with bullpen sessions after initially being placed on the injured list Aug. 9.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Drake has been out since early August with biceps tendinitis. His exact return date remains unclear, but he'll throw another bullpen session Thursday and could be activated soon after that.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Could be ready by end of week
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) could be ready for activation Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Drake was shut down back on Aug. 9 with biceps tendinitis, so his recovery has been a somewhat extended one. However, the veteran right-hander has been progressively building his arm back up through catch sessions, and manager Kevin Cash remarked Monday that it's "possible" Drake is ready for activation by the end of the week.
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Rays' Oliver Drake: Throws long toss again
Rotowire
Drake (biceps) played catch Monday and was pleased with how he felt physically after the session, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.
Though Drake has been working back slowly since being shut down with right biceps tendinitis just over two weeks ago, the Rays have been encouraged by the progress he's made in his recovery thus far. He could be ready to throw off a mound within the next few days before potentially facing hitters in live batting practice or a simulated game later this week.
