The Rays have released right-handed reliever Cory Rasmus, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). As Topkin notes, Rasmus was limited by injury this spring after inking a minors deal with the organization over the winter.
Rasmus had followed his brother Colby to Tampa Bay in hopes that the two might appear on the same major league roster for the first time. (They have previously squared off in game action.) But the pitching member of the family appeared in just one spring game.
Over parts of four seasons in the majors, Rasmus has thrown 123 innings of 4.17 ERA ball — mostly for the Angels. Though he has shown some swing-and-miss ability, with 8.9 K/9 for his career, Rasmus has also issued 4.2 free passes per nine innings and has proven susceptible to the long ball (lifetime 1.3 HR/9). He also struggled quite a bit last year, recording a 5.84 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 16 walks in his 24 2/3 frames while battling groin issues — just as he did this spring.
