The Rays signed Waguespack to a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension with a $1.5 million club option for 2026 on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack, 31, missed much of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury, but during his time at Triple-A Durham he had a 32:5 K:BB over 22 innings. The right-hander finished the season healthy and should compete for an Opening Day roster spot, perhaps in a swingman role.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Kicks off rehab assignment
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Waguespack (shoulder) gave up an earned run on two hits and no walks over one inning in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Friday.
Waguespack's appearance marked his first game action at any level since June 25, when he was pulled off a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League after experiencing a lower-back issue. The right-hander was initially placed on the injured list May 6 with right rotator cuff inflammation. Waguespack likely doesn't have enough time to get fully stretched back out for a starting role, so if he returns from the 60-day IL this season, he'll presumably serve as a reliever.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Aims to resume mound work this week
Rotowire
Waguespack (shoulder/back) is hopeful to resume throwing bullpen sessions by Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
Initially placed on the injured list May 6 with right rotator cuff inflammation, Waguespack was cleared to make a rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 25, only to fall victim to a lower-back issue that has kept him from pitching in a game ever since. He received injections Aug. 5 to address the back issue, and assuming the shots had the desired effect, Waguespack will take the next step forward in his throwing program by getting back on the mound this week. Even though the Rays likely envision Waguespack serving as a multi-inning reliever rather than a starter when he returns from the IL, he'll still likely need multiple weeks to complete a throwing progression and minor-league rehab assignment.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Resumes throwing program
Rotowire
Waguespack (shoulder) resumed his long-toss progression Friday, MLB.com reports.
Waguespack has been sidelined since April 12 and previously had his rehab shut down. However, he's resumed throwing and could toss a bullpen session at some point during the week of July 29.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Shut down from throwing
Rotowire
Waguespack (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing due to a lower-back issue, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Waguespack has been shelved since May 6 due to inflammation in his right shoulder but was given the green light June 24 to begin a rehab assignment. However, he's picked up a lower-back injury that will require him to be shut down for an unspecified period of time.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Set to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Waguespack (shoulder) is scheduled to throw one inning for the rookie-level Flordia Complex League Rays on Tuesday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Waguespack landed on the 15-day injured list May 6 due to right shoulder inflammation, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 18. His last outing before the injury was May 2 with Triple-A Durham, when he allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out seven over five innings.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Moves to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Rays transferred Waguespack (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.
Waguespack will give up his spot on the 40-man roster in order to make room for recent acquisition Richard Lovelady. Waguespack landed on the injured list May 6 due to right shoulder inflammation, and he will now be ineligible to return until July 5.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Recalled, placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Waguespack was recalled from Triple-A Durham and placed on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a shoulder injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Topkin notes that the club has elected to promote Waguespack and place him on the IL so that if he were to have a setback and require a longer shutdown period, Tampa Bay could shift him to the 60-day IL to clear up a spot on the 40-man roster. The club has yet to disclose any details on Waguespack's injury.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Optioned to Durham
Rotowire
The Rays optioned Waguespack to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Waguespack will be squeezed off the active roster as Tyler Alexander returns from the bereavement list Saturday. The 30-year-old right-hander posted a 5.40 ERA and 2.30 WHIP across 10 innings through four appearances and may return to Tampa Bay later this season should the Rays' pitching depth be tested again.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Sharp in no-decision
Rotowire
Waguespack came away with a no-decision in Friday's 2-1 win over the Giants, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Making his first start of the season, Waguespack wasn't stretched out enough to qualify for the win -- he got lifted after 71 pitches (45 strikes) -- but he certainly pitched well enough to earn one. The 30-year-old right-hander has had a bumpy beginning to 2024, posting a 5.40 ERA and 11:10 K:BB through 10 innings, but this performance may keep him in the mix for further spot starts or bulk relief assignments.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Set for spot start
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Waguespack will start Friday's game against the Giants, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Tyler Alexander (personal) is unavailable for the game, so the Rays will need to rely on a spot starter. Waguespack was in contention for a rotation job throughout spring training and worked three innings in his most recent outing. Across a total of six frames this season, he has allowed six earned runs while maintaining a 7:8 K:BB.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Slated for long relief
Rotowire
Waguespack will open the season in a long-relief role for the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He had been competing for a spot in the rotation, but the Rays have picked Tyler Alexander for that role. Waguespack holds a career 5.08 ERA and 79:38 K:BB over 13 starts and 14 relief appearances at the major-league level.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: May be relief option
Rotowire
Waguespack threw only two innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, an indication he may be headed for a relief role to begin the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack is a candidate for the rotation with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) sidelined. However, his workload has decreased as spring has progressed, going from 48 and 53 pitches in his first outings to only 40 on Monday. Waguespack could fill a multi-inning relief role, though Tyler Alexander looks to be lined up for a starting job.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Rays selected Waguespack's contract from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack had inked a minor-league contract this offseason following a two-year stint in Japan and has earned a spot on the major-league roster after allowing three runs with a 6:1 K:BB over five innings this spring. The 30-year-old right-hander is a candidate to make some starts early on in the season while Taj Bradley (pectoral) is sidelined.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Option for rotation
Rotowire
Waguespack is one of the candidates for the Rays' rotation while Taj Bradley (pectoral) is sidelined, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Waguespack signed a minor-league contract with the Rays in January following a two-year stint in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix Buffaloes. The 30-year-old has experience as a starter and a reliever and holds a 5.40 ERA and 6:1 K:BB over five innings this spring. Waguespack might not be stretched out enough to be used as a traditional starter, but he could perhaps work as an opener or bulk reliever.
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Rays' Jacob Waguespack: Joins Tampa on minors deal
Rotowire
Waguespack signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Monday.
The deal includes an invitation to big-league camp, but the 30-year-old right-hander was most likely brought aboard by the Rays to serve as bullpen depth at Triple-A Durham. Waguespack logged a 4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 9.6 K-BB% across 95.2 innings over parts of two seasons in the majors with the Blue Jays in 2019 and 2020, but he's since spent the last two campaigns overseas in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix Buffaloes. He struggled in his second season with Orix in 2023, pitching to a 5.77 ERA over 43.2 innings.
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Jacob Waguespack: Heads to Japan
Rotowire
Waguespack signed with the Orix Buffaloes of NPB on Friday, Yahoo Japan reports.
Waguespack spent all of 2021 with Triple-A Buffalo, where he recorded a 2.86 ERA in 69.1 innings as a swingman. Heading into his age-28 season, he's young enough that he still has the chance to impress overseas and make his case for another MLB contract, though his 5.08 ERA in 95.2 career innings at the highest level isn't particularly impressive.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Passes through waiver wire
Rotowire
The Blue Jays outrighted Waguespack to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Though he no longer possesses a spot on the 40-man roster, Waguespack will continue to attend big-league camp with the Blue Jays after going unclaimed off waivers. Expect him to open the Triple-A season as a member of Buffalo's rotation.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Waguespack was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Waguespack was healthy to begin spring training and made two relief appearances for the Blue Jays over the first week of Grapefruit League play. He allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while failing to strike out any batters over 1.1 innings. As a result, he'll be removed from the 40-man roster to make room for right-hander Joel Payamps, who was claimed off waivers by Toronto in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Jacob Waguespack: Available for first spring game
Rotowire
Waguespack (back) is slated to pitch during Sunday's spring opener against the Yankees, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
The 27-year-old missed the final weeks of the 2020 campaign due to a back strain, but he appears to be clear of that injury at the start of camp. Waguespack covered 17.2 innings for Toronto last season and struggled with an 8.15 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB.
