Neither left-hander Dan Jennings nor righty Daniel Hudson will make the Rays’ roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The futures of both relievers are now in question, but the Rays expect a resolution in each case within 24 to 48 hours, according to Topkin. Jennings is due $2.375MM this year, though the majority of that’s not guaranteed because it’s an arbitration salary. As such, the Rays could release Jennings and only pay one-fourth of that sum. Hudson, on the other hand, has a guaranteed $5.5MM coming his way. However, his previous employer – Pittsburgh – is covering $1MM of that. The Pirates traded Hudson to the Rays in a deal for outfielder Corey Dickerson last month.
More from the AL…
- The Rangers have interest in catcher Cameron Rupp, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Rupp’s currently in limbo after the Phillies designated him for assignment Sunday morning. For the moment, the out-of-options Juan Centeno is the Rangers’ projected backup catcher behind starter Robinson Chirinos (Rupp has two options left). The Rangers also have minor league backstop Jose Trevino on their 40-man roster.
- Yankees first baseman Greg Bird missed most of last season with a right foot injury and is once again dealing with an issue in that area. While Bird will see a foot specialist Monday, the Yankees are hopeful he’ll avoid a long-term absence. “(We are) at least a little bit optimistic, based on the pictures, but tomorrow should tell us a lot as far as what it is time-wise, all those kinds of things. Hopefully we’ll get some good answers tomorrow,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday (via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). In the event Bird does miss time, Tyler Austin could serve as the Yankees’ primary first baseman, Boone suggested (per Billy Witz of the New York Times).
- The Orioles attempted to reunite with one of their ex-players – free-agent utilityman Ryan Flaherty – on a minor league contract, but he’ll head elsewhere on a big league deal, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. The identity of Flaherty’s next team isn’t known. The 31-year-old hasn’t been on the open market for long, having opted out of the minors pact he had with the Phillies on Thursday.
- Indians outfielder Michael Brantley will begin the year on the disabled list, paving the way for Tyler Naquin to make the team, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com tweets. Brantley has made progress in his recovery from the right ankle surgery he underwent last October, but he’s not quite ready for regular-season action.
I have no clue what the Rays are doing. I feel like they could have traded Jennings this offseason. The market for relievers was booming. I feel like they just shot themselves in the foot in terms of leverage by announcing that Jennings wont make it.
As for Hudson….. well, you had to realize that one was coming.
I’m sure they tried but they also probably figured that he was affordable and hoped for a promising spring. Neither happened.
I bet the Brewers would have serious interest in Jennings since Boone Logan is down for now.
Nationals should be interested in Rupp.
Makes the Walker signing really another stroke of genius by Cash.
Tyler Austin will fill in fine at first. He’s a prospect that has been overlooked and under appreciated in the Yanks deep farm system. His inside out swing is a lot like Jeter’s and will play well to the dimensions of Yankee Stadium.
Bird has inflammation, which is seemingly good news as he avoided worst-case scrnario, but still concerning— considering Bird’s foot history.
I still believe Bird’s the word. He put an .891 OPS with eight home runs and 25 RBI over 29 regular-season games in 2017. He was clutch in the playoffs (Just one of slowest runners)
I’ve never been big on Bird. But I think he can be at least a 250-25 guy if healthy.
Big on Bird……Big…..Bird…..Big Bird!!
As a Sox fan, if healthy, Bird is capable of more than 250-25. He’s got an amazingly perfect swing for Yankee Stadium. Question is can you depend on him to remain on the field? Sort of like Pedroia but there’s a huge age difference there. Pedroia might still be in the discussion of best 2bmen not named Altuve even now yet you keep your fingers crossed every game.
“Bird’s the word” that saying is totally reserved for Larry Bird…
You spelled Peter griffin wrong
Excuse you…
Maybe the Yankees don’t believe his ankle is hurt again? Just like last season.
I bet the Brewers would have serious interest in Jennings since Boone Logan is down for now.
Yay for Naquin! He earned it.
He did? He got it by default and once Brittle Brantley comes off the DL it’s off to Columbus.
I played with Rupp when he was a sophomore and I was a senior. I started at pitcher and moved to third during an early season game. A guy on third goes “Your catcher is on steroids isn’t he?”. Now, Rupp was a man child where quads were shooting out of his pants when he walked but I know he wasn’t on roids. I responded with a ‘I know he’s not and he’s only a sophomore’. The guy was shocked and just responded with a dumbfounded ‘f you’. I still laugh about that to this day. He also hit the hardest homer I’ve seen in my life in that game.