The Rays announced a number of roster moves today, including right-hander Nick Anderson’s clearing waivers and electing free agency, which has already been reported. According to the team announcement, the same is true of outfielder Roman Quinn and righty Jimmy Yacabonis. A fourth player, lefty Brendan McKay, cleared waivers and was outrighted, though he lacks the ability to elect free agency and will stay with the organization.
Quinn, 30 in May, has spent the majority of his MLB time with the Phillies, though he got into 21 games as a Ray towards the end of 2022. He’s long been intriguing due to his speed and defense but has never hit much. His career batting line is .226/.303/.348 for a wRC+ of 78. He was better than that in his small sample with the Rays, hitting .262/.340/.405 for a wRC+ of 119, but that wasn’t enough to hold onto his roster spot. Since he has over three years of MLB service time, he had the right to reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency.
Yacabonis, 31 in March, has seen action in five different MLB seasons, spending time with the Orioles and Mariners before splitting 2022 between the Marlins and Rays. He tossed 14 innings on the year between the two clubs with an 8.36 ERA. He fared much better in the minors, putting up an ERA of 3.21 across 33 2/3 innings between the two orgs. That came with a 10.9% walk rate but an impressive 31.4% strikeout rate. He was eligible to elect minor league free agency based on having spent seven or more seasons in the minors.
As for McKay, he was drafted by the Rays fourth overall in 2017 and was once a highly-touted two-way prospect. Unfortunately, a devastating rash of injuries have hampered him in recent years. He missed 2020 due to a shoulder injury that later required surgery. When rehabbing in 2021, he suffered a flexor strain, which was followed shortly thereafter by a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome. He underwent surgery for that but then required Tommy John surgery in September of this year. That means 2023 will be a fourth straight lost season for the southpaw.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times relayed the moves before the official team announcement.
Gotta feel for McKay, I think dude was raised on cursed ground or something
Well he was born in Northern Pa, tons of different tribes around there…
HEY Brendan, stick with it…..!
He was born in central east PA. At least verify your sources buster olney.
He graduated from the sane high school as me right on the Ohio state line. Yinzers are a tribe unto themselves. I know, I’m one too.
I feel for McKay.
Roman Quinn, the guy the Royals wouldn’t keep on their roster…but the Rays FO thought they had something. Another midseason mistake, wasted a roster spot that could have given a kid some experience.
Poor fellow Pennsylvanian Brendan McKay. 4th Overall back in 2017 and now being left off the 40-man. I hope he makes it back some day
Roman Quinn would be an excellent replacement for Cody Bellinger in LA. Basically the same player, but at a fraction of the cost.
Don’t be surprised if McKay gets picked in Rule 5 draft because the team that picks him can put him right away on the 60 day IL. They can monitor his progress and see what he is doing. If it isn’t working out once he comes off they can then return him. Won’t really cost them anything to do it as far as baseball money.
Why would anyone take him in the Rule 5 when they literally JUST passed on claiming him on waivers????
because other teams are all in a crunch to get guys put on the 40 man roster right now. On the 15th the smoke can clear and see where they are all at if a team is sitting with there roster at 36 or 37 then they know what they can do and who all got taken off 40 man but right now McKay might not be a priority right now. Last year somebody signed a minor league contract and 2 days later San Francisco picked them in the Rule 5 draft .
Space can always be cleared. And they’re going to have to clear space anyway if they want to make a Rule 5 selection. If a team was THAT interested in McKay they would have claimed him, I guarantee it.
Also, there was no Rule 5 draft last year and then the year before that the guy the Giants took did NOT just sign a minor league contract 2 days earlier.
It’s happened before. Not common, but it’s happened.
Yeah so just to be clear – the reds could have just claimed McKay and then put him on the 60 day and he would have just made the league minimum all year ?
What a miss. You know they don’t have a roster crunch. More people from louisville would show up to see him pitch than reds have fans show
McKay WHIP need some work. Give up 13 hits and 6 walks in 15.1 innings? That’s not going to cut it.
I’m a little surprised they didn’t keep Quinn. He seemed like a decent 4th outfield option behind Margot, Siri, and Arozarena. Perhaps they hope Lowe and Brujan will fill those spots, but he still seemed like a good depth option.
Lifelong Phillies fan here, Quinn was drafted as a 2nd rnd ss w/ tons of potential…
Quinn, first can’t stay healthy, 2nd takes curious routes to flyballs still and 3rd can’t hit…..I lament for all Phillies failed top prospects, looking at you Hasely today, but Quinn is just that….
Surprised no one claimed McKay. Hopefully he can get healthy and produce for TB.
I remember this dude was supposed to be another Shohei Ohtani.
Jimmy holds grudges!