Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen is about to undergo an inside brace surgery that may finish his 2023 season, in accordance to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen has been out with a flexor pressure since mid-May, although the membership initially hoped he might return this summer season. Topkin moreover relays that the 27-year-old hurler is now anticipated to be sidelined till not less than halfway via the 2024 marketing campaign.
The information is one more blow to a Rays rotation that simply misplaced left-hander Shane McClanahan to the injured checklist on the finish of June. Rasmussen will now be a part of left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who underwent Tommy John surgery again in April, in lacking the rest of the 2023 season. The Rays are presently leaning on a rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Taj Bradley, Zach Eflin and Yonny Chirinos as they await McClanahan’s return from the IL. While that’s a stable group, one which has mixed for a 3.99 in 252 1/3 innings this season, it’s exhausting to deny to that each Rasmussen (2.62 ERA in eight begins) and Springs (0.56 ERA in three begins) can be main upgrades to the present group if wholesome.
News that Tampa will probably be with out Rasmussen for the remainder of the season comes simply three weeks earlier than the August 1 commerce deadline. The Rays are the highest staff within the AL with a 57-34 file, whilst they’ve but to have the ability to area their 5 finest starters on the identical time for a single flip via the rotation this season. Still, with out Rasmussen to assist bolster the pitching workers down the stretch and into the playoffs, the membership’s already-acknowledged want to add pitching within the coming weeks is simply intensified.
Of course, the marketplace for beginning pitchers is at all times a aggressive one and GM Peter Bendix beforehand indicated the membership was unlikely to take part in a bidding battle for probably the most extremely sought-after hurlers. While it’s potential the current information on Rasmussen has elevated the membership’s urgency to make impactful additions, the Rays should choose to stick to much less sought-after choices like Jack Flaherty or Michael Lorenzen, reasonably than pursue top-of-the-market arms like Lucas Giolito.
Looking past the 2023 marketing campaign, the Rays are presently set to enter the 2024 season with out the providers of both Rasmussen or Springs. Glasnow, McClanahan, Bradley, Eflin and Chirinos are all managed via not less than 2024, giving them a believable Opening Day rotation nonetheless below contract. But with minimal depth outdoors of that group, it might hardly be a shock if the membership pursued further beginning depth in the course of the coming offseason – that’s, until they add an arm with a number of years of management this summer season.
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