Athletics' Jeffrey Springs: Headliner in offseason swap
Rotowire
The Rays traded Springs and Jacob Lopez to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After signing Luis Severino to the largest guaranteed deal in franchise history, the A's continue to invest into their rotation by acquiring Springs. The 32-year-old southpaw missed the first half of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but returned to start seven games for Tampa Bay, recording a 3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 33 innings. He and Severino will almost certainly slot in at the top of the Athletics' rotation, but because Springs has surpassed the 45-inning mark only once in his seven-year career, the A's may look to limit his workload in 2025.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Ruled out for rest of season
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Springs (elbow) is feeling better but will not return from the 15-day injured list this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Springs landed on the IL earlier this month with left elbow fatigue, roughly six weeks after he returned to the majors following a long rehab from Tommy John surgery. While Springs' current elbow issue doesn't seem to be overly concerning, the Rays would have little to gain by rushing him back before the regular season concludes.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Out with elbow fatigue
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The Rays placed Springs on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to left elbow fatigue.
The left-hander lined up to take the mound early this week in Philadelphia, but he'll instead head to the IL due to the elbow issue. Springs will be eligible to return from the injured list in late September, potentially in time for a couple starts, but there's a real chance he won't return with the Rays six games back of the final wild-card spot. If he is done for the season, the 31-year-old will close the campaign with a 3.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 33 innings (seven starts).
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Grabs second win
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Springs (2-2) earned the win Tuesday over the Twins, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.
Carlos Santana's solo home run in the second inning proved to be the lone blemish on Springs' line Tuesday, as the left-hander held Minnesota scoreless over his final four frames to pick up his second win this season. It was also the first time Springs has made it through six innings this season, as he works his way back to full strength following Tommy John surgery. The 31-year-old Springs has allowed just one run on five hits over his last two starts (11 innings), lowering his ERA to 3.27 on the year with a 1.36 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 33 innings. His next outing is currently lined up for early next week against the Phillies.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Strikes out nine in dominant outing
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Springs allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out nine over five scoreless innings in Tuesday's win over the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision.
Springs posted his highest strikeout total across six starts this season. He registered 16 whiffs on 79 pitches, including 10 on his changeup. Springs has been on a pitch limit as he ramps his way up from Tommy John surgery and hasn't pitched past the fifth inning yet, but he's racked up 33 strikeouts in his 27 frames so far this season. Springs lines up to open next week with a home start against the Twins.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Sharp in first win of 2024
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Springs (1-1) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five innings in a 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks. He struck out seven.
The southpaw has yet to work more than five innings or throw more than 87 pitches in his four starts since returning from Tommy John surgery in late July, but Springs appears to be rounding into form quickly. Over his last two outings, both against playoff-caliber foes in Baltimore and Arizona, the 31-year-old has dazzled with a 15:1 K:BB in 10 innings while giving up just a single run in each start. Springs will look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Oakland.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Punches out eight
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Springs didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one run on six hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out eight.
Springs rebounded from a four-run start against St. Louis with Sunday's gem, fanning eight batters after combining for six Ks in his first two starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander was pulled after 83 pitches (58 strikes) and hasn't reached the 90-pitch threshold since being activated. In 13.2 innings, Springs has yielded seven runs with a 14:4 K:BB. He's on track to face the Diamondbacks next time out.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Stuck with loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Springs (0-1) took the loss Tuesday as the Rays were downed 4-3 by the Cardinals, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out three.
Making his second start of the season, the southpaw stretched out to 87 pitches (53 strikes) but got too much of the plate at times, serving up two homers including Victor Scott's first career MLB blast. Springs hasn't yet found the form he flashed in 2022 prior to Tommy John surgery, and he faces a tough test in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Orioles.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Shakes off rust in 2024 debut
Rotowire
Springs didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Miami, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk across 3.2 innings. He struck out three.
Springs made his first MLB start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2023 and threw 76 pitches. The 31-year-old surrendered a two-run home run to Emmanuel Rivera in the first inning but kept the Marlins from adding more runs following the blast. Springs' day came to an end in the fourth frame when back-to-back singles by Nick Gordon and Nick Fortes loaded the bases with two outs, prompting manager Kevin Cash to turn to the bullpen. Springs is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in St. Louis.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Returns from IL
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Springs (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
Though Springs has been added back to the Rays' 40-man roster and 26-man active roster, he won't make his season debut with the big club until Tuesday against the Marlins, per Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun. The upcoming outing against the Marlins will be the left-hander's first in the big leagues since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2023. In his last full season in 2022, he went 9-5 over 25 starts with a 2.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 144:31 K:BB across 135.1 innings. Springs reached five innings and 82 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Durham this past Thursday, so he shouldn't face any major restrictions with his workload against Miami.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Taking over Eflin's rotation spot
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Sunday and then will return from the 60-day injured list to start for the Rays on Tuesday or Wednesday versus the Marlins, MLB.com reports.
Springs is on the cusp of his 2024 debut with the Rays after completing 12 rehab starts and most recently building up to five innings and 82 pitches with Triple-A Durham on Thursday. Assuming all goes well with his bullpen session Sunday, he'll be set for his first big-league appearance since April 2023. The Rays may monitor Springs' innings due to his lengthy layoff due to Tommy John surgery, but he'll assume the rotation spot vacated by Zach Eflin, who was traded to the Orioles on Friday.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Set for another rehab start
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) is expected to cover five innings in his next rehab start with Triple-A Durham during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.
Springs will require at least one more tune-up outing in the minors after he most recently made the 10th start of his rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Durham. He struck out three over three innings and gave up two earned runs on four hits and one walk, tossing just 48 pitches after a rain delay cut his start short. Per MLB.com, the Rays are evaluating Springs' readiness to return from the 60-day injured list on a start-to-start basis, but if he's able to cover five innings efficiently in his upcoming outing with Durham, he could get the green light to make his 2024 debut with the big club. The Rays already have a rotation spot available for the taking with Ryan Pepiot (knee) landing on the 15-day IL on Sunday.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Set for rehab start Saturday
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Springs (elbow) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
In his last rehab outing July 14, Springs gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out three across 4.2 innings. While it was the worst outing of his rehab stint, he built up to 77 pitches (51 strikes), so he appears to be nearing the end of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. After converting to full-time starting duty with the Rays in May 2022, Springs posted a 9-5 record with a 2.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 144:31 K:BB across 135.1 frames, so he could make for an appealing pitcher to stash in shallower leagues where he might still be available on the waiver wire.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Tosses 77 pitches in rehab start
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Springs (elbow) covered 4.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Durham, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out three batters.
After turning in a 3.12 ERA and 21:1 K:BB in 17.1 innings over his first six rehab starts with Durham, Springs took a step back Sunday from a performance standpoint. More importantly, however, Springs tossed 77 pitches (51 strikes) in the outing, so he looks to be stretched out enough to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation. The Rays have yet to offer an official word on the next step for the 31-year-old lefty as he nears the finish line in his recovery from his April 2023 Tommy John surgery, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should be looking to stash Springs in anticipation of his return from the 60-day injured list shortly after the All-Star break. After moving into a full-time starting role with Tampa Bay beginning in May 2022, Springs delivered a 2.41 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 21.9 K-BB% over 138.1 innings before requiring elbow surgery.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Works four innings again
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) completed four innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out two in a rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Springs worked four innings for the second consecutive rehab outing, though he struggled to get strikeouts at the same rate as his past appearances. Nevertheless, Springs remains on a positive trajectory and is projected to return to the Rays in late July.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Another step forward
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) completed four shutout innings while striking out six and allowing three hits in a rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
This marked Springs' longest rehab outing, and he ramped up to 62 pitches -- 47 of which went for strikes. This was his fifth outing with Durham, and Springs remains on track to return to the Rays' rotation sometime after the All-Star break.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Builds up to three innings
Rotowire
Springs (elbow) allowed three runs on five hits and struck out five across three innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Durham Friday, MLB.com reports.
The surface results weren't impressive for Springs, though all of his runs were surrendered on a home run. He also drew 12 whiffs on 29 swings against Triple-A Lehigh Valley, six of which came against changeups. In total he threw 45 pitches in his longest rehab outing since retaking the mound June 7. That workload suggests he has work left to do before being activated, but he'll soon need to agree to continue his rehab assignment with the team beyond the standard 30 days -- an option for pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Springs (elbow/lat) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Springs resumed throwing Thursday, but Saturday's activity marked his return to the mound. He threw primarily fastballs and changeups and will retake the mound Tuesday. If that goes well, Springs' next could be restarting his minor-league rehab assignment. Unsurprisingly, the Rays are planning to be cautious with Springs, who was lifted after facing just one hitter in his second rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on May 25 due to a lat injury. Springs has been on the 60-day injured list all season while completing his recovery from his April 2023 Tommy John surgery.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Springs (elbow/lat) threw long toss from 90 feet Thursday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Springs was removed from his second rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League this past Saturday due to lat soreness, but it's a good sign that he was able to resume throwing five days later. According to Ackert, Springs made about 45 throws Thursday with no apparent issues. It's not clear when the left-hander will be ready to resume a rehab assignment. Springs is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last April.
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Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Dealing with lat issue
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that Springs (elbow) will be shut down for a couple of day after the left-hander exited Saturday's rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Cash noted that Springs' removal from Saturday's rehab start was due to a lat issue and "very precautionary." The southpaw was making the second start of his rehab assignment as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent April 24, 2023. Assuming his throwing program isn't delayed for too long, Springs could head back out on his rehab assignment within the next week or two, potentially putting him on track for a return from the 60-day injured list at some point in June.
