The Rays have selected the contract of right-hander Aaron Slegers from the Triple-A Durham Bulls, as per a team announcement. Righty Hoby Milner has been optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move, and Tampa Bay already had open space on its 40-man roster.
Slegers was acquired from the Pirates in late March, and the 6’10” right-hander has had his share of struggles for Durham this season, with a 5.49 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 2.72 K/BB rate, and 20 home runs allowed over 98 1/3 innings. Slegers has started 13 of his 24 games, though he has pitched somewhat better out of the bullpen (4.75 ERA in 36 IP) than the rotation (5.92 ERA).
It could be that Slegers will only receive a cup of coffee with the Rays, given how the team so often shuttles pitchers back and forth between Triple-A and the majors to get fresh arms into the mix. Milner, for instance, had his contract selected on Monday, he tossed two innings in Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the Mariners, and is now already headed back to Durham.
Assuming Slegers gets into a game in due course, it will mark his third straight season of MLB action. Originally a fifth-round pick for the Twins in the 2013 draft, Slegers posted a 5.90 ERA over 29 innings for Minnesota in 2017-18.
good thing they got rid of Gibaut and Sadler so they have room for midling-at-best pitchers.
Winning Garnes and keeping expenses low…the Tampa way
Can either of those guys start or pitch bulk innings? Nope but good try with your missed pointed there partner
a lot of people can pitch multiple innings. not all are good at it.
I was surprised that they waived Sadler.He was pitching pretty well with them.
I thought that their ML pitching roster was very good but Milner and Slegers do not seem to fit that description.
Milner is not a righty.. Never has been. But hey, it was only a 50/50 chance.