Poche was non-tendered by the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Poche has been a key high-leverage reliever for the Rays the last several seasons, picking up a combined 65 holds since 2022. He's also posted a WHIP no worse than 1.16 in that span, meaning he should be in relatively high demand on the open market.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
The Rays activated Poche (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Poche has been out all month with left shoulder inflammation but will skip a rehab assignment and go directly back into the big-league bullpen. The left-hander could be in the mix for saves down the stretch as part of an unsettled Tampa Bay closer situation.
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Rays' Colin Poche: First hold since return
Rotowire
Poche didn't allow a baserunner while throwing a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold Thursday against the Cubs.
Thursday's appearance marked Poche's fourth outing since being activated from the injured list. He has only two strikeouts while issuing two free passes across four innings in that span, though he has yet to surrender an earned run. Poche will remain in a high-leverage role, but he isn't likely to factor significantly into the saves picture for the Rays, barring an injury to Pete Fairbanks.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Poche (back) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.
Poche landed on the injured list April 26 due to mid-back tightness. He began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday, and over three appearances he allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out one over 2.2 innings. Southpaw Richard Lovelady was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm flexor strain in a corresponding move.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Poche (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Poche's last documented activity was May 22, when he threw a 15-pitch bullpen session. He'll likely only need a couple of appearances in Durham before being activated.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Return date unclear
Rotowire
There is no clear timeline for Poche (back) to be activated from the injured list, MLB.com reports.
Poche has received a pair of cortisone shots to relieve his pain and has been able to resume some baseball activity. However, his ramp-up has remained slow, making it unclear when he may be able to return.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Poche (back) threw on flat ground Sunday and is expected to throw a bullpen session Monday, MLB.com reports.
Poche had been shut down since hitting the injured list April 26, after receiving an injection in his back and resting for several days. He's projected to return in mid-May barring any setbacks, suggesting he may not need a rehab assignment.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Lands on IL with back injury
Rotowire
The Rays placed Poche on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to April 24, with mid-back tightness, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Poche was knocked around for three runs in his last appearance Tuesday and it's possible he might have been compromised physically in that outing. He will miss at least the next two weeks, depriving the Rays of another high-leverage reliever after they already lost Pete Fairbanks (arm).
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Rays' Colin Poche: Nabs save Saturday
Rotowire
Poche picked up a save against the Rockies on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Poche came on in the ninth inning with the Rays up by two runs and retired the side in order on 10 pitches. This was a nice bounce-back performance for the southpaw after he allowed three runs in one inning in the first game of the series in Coors Field on Friday. Interestingly, regular closer Pete Fairbanks didn't get the save opportunity Saturday despite throwing fewer pitches than Poche on Friday following two days of rest. However, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Fairbanks was unavailable Saturday, so it shouldn't be assumed that Poche is going to get consistent save chances moving forward.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Notches fourth win
Rotowire
Poche (4-1) earned the win in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cubs, allowing one hit over a scoreless inning.
It was a nice bounce-back effort from Poche after he allowed two runs on three hits in his last outing Saturday. The 29-year-old left-hander finishes May with a 2.89 ERA over 9.1 innings, holding opponents scoreless in nine out of his 11 appearances. Poche now sports a 2.29 ERA through 19.2 innings this season with a 1.37 WHIP, 12:9 K:BB, one save and seven holds. He could be in line for more high-leverage work while Pete Fairbanks (hip) is sidelined.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Loses arbitration case
Rotowire
Poche lost his arbitration case against the Rays on Saturday, meaning he'll make $1.175 million this season, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Poche had filed for $1.3 million. The southpaw saved seven games for the Rays last season despite posting a mediocre 3.99 ERA. Tampa Bay's typically fluid bullpen setup could see Poche earn another small handful of saves when opposing lefties are due up in the ninth inning, but he doesn't look like a candidate for a traditional closer role should the Rays go that route.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Placed on IL
Rotowire
Poche (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Poche sustained a right oblique strain Tuesday against the Red Sox and will miss the remainder of the season. Josh Fleming was recalled to take Poche's place on the active roster ahead of Wednesday's regular-season finale.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Picks up seventh save
Rotowire
Poche yielded a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Tigers, striking out one and earning his seventh save of the year.
Poche had two runners on base with two outs but he managed to strike out Riley Greene to preserve the 5-3 win. The 6-foot-3 southpaw picked up his first save since July 13 after blowing his previous two opportunities. He's now sporting a 3.00 ERA and a 35:14 K:BB through 39 appearances.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Struggles again
Rotowire
Poche (3-1) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in the ninth inning to earn the win Wednesday against the Orioles.
Poche entered the game with a one-run lead but allowed a solo home run to Jorge Mateo to blow a save chance for the second consecutive day. He's struggled since late June, allowing nine earned runs across 11.2 innings and 13 appearances. Pete Fairbanks picked up the save in the 10th inning after the Rays retook the lead, further complicating the closer picture in Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Blows save chance, picks up win
Rotowire
Poche (1-0) was charged with a blown save but earned the win after allowing an unearned run on a hit and two walks while striking out one Wednesday against the Rangers.
Poche was asked to protect a one-run lead in the 10th inning, though that was quickly spoiled after he allowed a one-out single that brought home the designated runner from second base. He walked two of the next three batters he faced but escaped without any further damage. The Rays' closer situation remains ambiguous, but Poche would have three of the team's last four saves if he had converted Wednesday's opportunity successfully.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Converts second save
Rotowire
Poche threw a perfect ninth inning Saturday to earn the save in a 3-1 win over the Yankees.
Poche got Joey Gallo to pop up and then induced groundouts from DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge, escaping the inning in 13 pitches. After starting the year well, Poche has received and converted the Rays' last two save opportunities. He's posted a 1.20 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB while adding seven holds in 16 appearances spanning 15 innings. It's unclear if he'll continue to get ninth-inning looks over Brooks Raley, but Poche is firmly in the high-leverage mix.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Snags first save
Rotowire
Poche allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out one in the ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Marlins.
Poche was handed a two-run lead and was ultimately forced to get out of a bases-loaded jam to end the game. Neither of the hits he surrendered left the infield, and the defense committed two errors behind him. Nevertheless, Poche managed to record his first save of the season, which is particularly notable because Andrew Kittredge (back) is sidelined and Brooks Raley was not used in the game. Poche missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery but has returned to maintain a 1.29 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across 14 innings.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Poche was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
While Poche won't be on the team to start the year, the Rays will rotate through their relievers with options throughout the season, so he should get his chance before too long. The lefty has missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and had an unimpressive 4.70 ERA in his 51.2-inning debut back in 2019, though that came with a strong 34.8 percent strikeout rate.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Making third spring appearance
Rotowire
Poche is scheduled to appear in relief of starter Josh Fleming in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Healthy again after missing the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June 2020, Poche is vying for a spot in the Rays' Opening Day bullpen. He's looked sharp in his first two Grapefruit League appearances to date, striking out two over two scoreless frames while recording a save.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Received clearance in fall
Rotowire
Poche (elbow) said Saturday that he received clearance to resume pitching ahead of fall instructionals, and he expects to be a full participant when the MLB lockout ends and big leaugers report to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 28-year-old hasn't pitched in a competitive setting since the 2019 postseason after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in July 2020. The track record of pitchers returning from two reconstructive elbow injuries isn't a promising one, so the Rays could still look to limit his usage this spring out of an abundance of caution. When he was last healthy during his rookie season in the majors, Poche was one of the top strikeout artists among relievers, whiffing 34.8 percent of the batters he faced.
