10:40am: At the press conference to introduce Eflin, general manager Peter Bendix said the Rays fully expect to find a trade partner for Feyereisen (Twitter link via Topkin).
9:58am: The Rays have designated right-hander J.P. Feyereisen for assignment in order to open a spot on then roster for right-hander Zach Eflin, whose previously reported three-year deal is now official.
While Feyereisen’s DFA might raise some eyebrows, given a sensational 2022 season in which he pitched 24 1/3 shutout innings for Tampa Bay with a 25-to-5 K/BB ratio, the decision comes less than a week after the right-hander required surgery to repair the labrum and rotator cuff in his ailing right shoulder. Feyereisen won’t throw a ball for at least four months and is expected to be shelved well into the 2023 season. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that Feyereisen isn’t expected back until late August.
Prior to the 2022 season, Feyereisen had enjoyed success in the upper minors but displayed more red flags in the big leagues. A 2.73 ERA in 56 innings between the Brewers and the Rays in 2021 was clearly encouraging, but Feyereisen walked a whopping 14.1% of his opponents that season, making that output appear unsustainable. The Rays, however, managed to sharpen his command in 2022, as he fanned 29.1% of hitters against a tidy 5.8% walk rate. His career walk rate of 12% is still concerning, particularly when coupled with the recent shoulder operation, but Feyereisen clearly has the makings of a solid late-game reliever if he can sustain his improved 2022 command.
The Rays, of course, could have opted to keep Feyereisen on the 40-man roster and place him on the 60-day injured list when Spring Training commences — there’s no injured list in the offseason — but they’re in somewhat of a bind, given that Feyereisen is just one of several players ticketed for the 60-day IL when camp begins. Both Shane Baz and Andrew Kittredge figure to require placement on the 60-day IL themselves, as each is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Waiting until Spring Training to make those moves would’ve effectively left the Rays working with a 37-man roster throughout the offseason.
Even with Feyereisen’s recent surgery, there’s a strong chance today’s DFA will spell the end of his time with the Rays. He has only two-plus years of MLB service time, meaning an acquiring team could control the 29-year-old righty for another four seasons. Even if he’ll miss a considerable portion of the 2023 season, there’s plenty of appeal in adding an arm of Feyereisen’s caliber, whether via a small trade or waiver claim, knowing he can be reasonably expected to be healthy for the 2024-26 seasons. The Rays clearly didn’t feel they had the luxury of rostering three immediate 60-day IL placements for the remainder of the offseason, but other clubs with greater flexibility won’t have such pressing concerns.
Classic Rays, run an arm into the ground and then dump them.
Typical Rays, release him so you don’t have to actually pay the poor guy. Smh
Poor guy? He made over a half million dollars last year. It’s not like he is a Dickensian orphan or something. Let’s get a little perspective.
Wow, a half a million dollars! Looks like he broke the bank? Cheapskate Rays.
How much did you make last year Chuckles?
So you’re saying 29 other teams now have the opportunity to pay him. What’s so bad about that?
Coming from someone whose team thinks that money is irrelevant, that comment makes sense.
Always: you are spot on. The ignorance in this thread is baffling. A clueless NYY fan, triggered by a person spouting false information about arm health.
Amazes me that these people are allowed to vote, drive cars, etc.
Okay buddy tell me more about how I shouldn’t be able to drive and vote because I disagree with TB’s pitcher management.
@alwaysgo4two- No the money isn’t irrelevant, but the Rays are. Enjoy 3rd place next season in the AL East. Maybe you beat the Jays in the playoffs?
Since 2020, Rays 30
Yankees, 23
Irrelevant and at 1/3 the payroll.
You are the biggest troll on this site.or maybe the rays really do live rent free in your head since thats all you post about. Either way good to see you still posting, it would be less fun without you and your comic takes
That’s okay I’ll be saying poor Yankees when Judge breaks down in the next three years LMAO.
Yep. If they DFA him, then they don’t have to pay him his tendered salary & can resign him to a minor league deal.
After doing all that to him, why would he want to stay? The Yankees should sign him, nice reliever.
He Was in the Yankees farm system for years, after being drafted by Cleveland then dealt to New York in the Miller deal he sat in the upper levels of the Yankees farm system dominating but never receiving a real chance so the crew picked him up for next to nothing, I doubt he’ll end up in the NY system again or I hope not.
run an arm into the ground and then dump them.
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Yeah, those 61 innings in two years just positively tore his arm up. How do you know it wasn’t the 28.2 innings that Mil had him for?
He started 2021 with Milwaukee and was injured half of last year.
Bloom is all in on another broken down cast off
He’d be an excellent pickup. Unfortunately, someone will grab him before us, put him on the 40, wait until the claiming period is over, then put him on the 60-day DL At which point, they would’ve grabbed a decent+ RP for a minimum wage, with three years of control left.
And that’s when you’ll come back in complaining that Bloom lost him because he is too cheap.
Sound about right?
I dunno, maybe?
The main issue I have with this move is the timing. Makes it more difficult for him to be rostered *after teams already mandated to set their 40-man* & after the Rule V.
It seems it would’ve been a better (more player friendly) organizational move to DFA him prior to that so a team could’ve planned on him taking a spot. It’s perhaps the worst timing. But, maybe their logic is strictly strategic in that they want to force him though so they keep him too?
Regardless, I still believe this guy get selected by some team in the top 10 waiver wire claims.
It seems it would’ve been a better (more player friendly) organizational move to DFA
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It’s not TB’s responsibility to help other teams claim their player. Anyone that wants him can trade a lottery ticket to TB, and Feyereisen will still make the same salary.
TB tears through pitchers.
It’s hard to equate if this was a stress injury caused by TB but they have an unusual amount of arm injuries.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the MLBPA put together a research report on this at some point. They get the most out of guys but something about how they’re having these guys pitch seems more conducive to injuries.
JP just got back so he can have a magic touch and he’s actually a good pitcher to.
Of course it isn’t their responsibility. But it’s common for organizations to help players out by getting them to places so they can play too.
That I agree with.
Which they did. The market takes care of itself. When these guys are on the block, they generally attract the attention of teams with an opening on the 40-man, or with a real weak #40. And often enough, teams that have had success with that type of player.
Apparently 59 innings is running an arm into the ground…
WHY
maybe end up on pirates.
seems injury related. guy was a beast
Nah, the Royals. He has history with their new Manager.
I hope Elias jumps on him though. Work absolute magic on these guys. Feyereisen doesn’t even need to be fixed.
Send them a 40 man reject like Brnovich and call it a day.
All the Rays reliever have massive home/road splits. Makes me think they’re up to something fishy
Steve – look at Rays reliever home road splits. It’s too stark to be a coincidence
Brian Cashman is gonna pick him up in 3…2…1…
Not happening. If he’s willing to wait till Spring Training to sign, then he will.
Go ahead Milwaukee pick him up. Not going to cost them a lot. Will sit on 60 man IL. That or sign him to a 2 year minor league deal.
Was on Brewers I think until the Rassmusen trade.
Dude just hit the jackpot!
Only a matter of hours before Chaim Bloom offers him $10 mil to not pitch this season..
Username checks out
Hahaha
If he’s willing to wait till Spring Training to sign, can a team sign him directly to the 60-Day injured list, or would they need a roster spot first, sign him (to an MLB deal) and then IL him?
Based on my understanding, they would have to sign him to the roster first, then designate. You can’t dump a non-existing player onto the 60-day that’s not rostered, imo.
That’s assuming it’s not a non-guaranteed split deal, or minor league deal, or whatever.
Woah. I don’t care if he doesn’t throw a single pitch in 2023, he’s worth stashing for some rebuilding team.
I’d say he’s worth stashing for basically every team. But yeah, a team like Pittsburgh or Oakland should be knocking down his door.
Pay him, Bob, he’s cheap!
He can probably sign a multi year minors deal that pays him pennies while he’s rehabbing in 2023 and a higher salary in 2024 should he make it back to the big leagues.
He won’t need to a sign a minor league contract. He’ll be traded to or claimed by (likely traded to) a team that has more roster flexibility and can wait to place him on the 60-day IL when camp opens.
Bring him back, Brewers. He was great for us before we traded him, great for the Rays after the trade. Let him sit on the IL and if all goes well he’ll make an excellent late-season bullpen addition.
The Mets signed an injured John Curtiss last year For this year and wouldn’t be surprised to see them do it again.
They signed Curtiss when they could put him directly on the 60-day injured list. They’d need to wait two-plus months to do so right now and already have a full 40-man roster.
Not saying they can’t/won’t acquire him, but it’s not as straightforward as when they signed Curtiss.
Uh-oh…here comes Chaim. This is Chaim’s type of guy! ♫ ☼ ♪
I’d love to sign him to a minor league deal, but as Mr. Adams wrote, he will be traded or claimed long before he gets to us.
Now that he has been traded, do you understand the process a little bit better?
Labrum and rotator cuff surgery isn’t quick and easy like cleaning out debris from an elbow. However, the idea that he can pick up a ball four months post surgery suggests it might not be a full-blown surgery. I’m not a doctor, but I tore my rotator cuff 25 years ago (early 30s then) and it would have been a nine month recovery had I opted for surgery.
You just play one on the internet!
Just kidding. I agree with you actually. Have a family member in the medical profession which means nothing other than I hear things and get educated.
The key there might be 25 years ago. Infinitely better imaging technology means they go in better prepared. In this case, they know the extent of the rupture/tear prior to surgery. Not so much 25 years ago. There was more “let’s open it up, see what we are dealing with and then go from there”
Good guy to pick up for teams who intend to need a reliever come trade deadline (e.g., Brewers, Mariners, Blue Jays)
This is the kind of target the Braves pick up on the cheap, waiting out the surgery recovery (though mostly post-Tommy John pitchers).
Agreed this does sound like AA style deal. Braves have 36/40 roster spots filled.
I honestly would take him over Jimenez, let alone trade to get Jimenez.
Sorry, but I still cannot believe that one
Padres, Dodgers, and Braves all have 3+ vacancies on their 40 man so theoretically they would all be well positioned to carry him through the offseason before putting him on the 60 day IL in the spring. Should be a nice boost down the stretch for any of them to have him come back in August, kind of like a pre-planned deadline acquisition to the pen.
Those teams probably aren’t done adding to their rosters so they still might need some of those 40 man roster spots this offseason, but they seem like possible trade partners given the current roster space.
I’ve loved Feyereisen since before the Brewers traded him. Please get this guy Chaim and then sign Swanson.
Bloom doesn’t have any 40 man space at this point.
You’re probably DFA’ing Ort to add him. Is that worth it? Maybe, but that’s the trade off in addition to whatever you deal away for him.
If the price was Ort, I would definitely not do it.
He has been a very reliable good pitcher. Will probably be very cheap to acquire. Bloom might want to look into it. it can be a great pickup for the second half ot he season. Bloom has certainly blown the 1st part of the offseason. Almost anyone could have done a better job at this offseason then Bloom has. I only give him credit for a couple nice reliever pickups. Concerns about Jensen, with the pitch clock this year, Jensen is one of the slowest pitchers. Can be a issue with him, plus his best years are behind him
I feel there’s more than meets the eye here, like he’ll miss more than just 2023, or injury concerns that could persist throughout his career;.
Being very cheap, it could be a very low risk gamble, that’s all I’m saying above.
I see teams signing players, making small and large deals, what is Bloom working on?? anything? Senga was his best option, without draft attached, blew that as well. No pitcher is available with his repertoire at this point besides Rodon, who has a pick attached and will cost double of what Senga did. Boston has 40k room to the salary cap, where is he going to spend that, needs 2 SP, and of or 2b. He’s going to get cheap options that are not performers. I like Conforto, give him 1 year to reestablish his value, what are we waiting for???
Giants writ large.
Tampa has history of swapping suspect players to Twins. Bring it on.
TB has done that one to everyone.. the line is back there.
This injury is costing him millions. Finally got his bb/9 down, making him a solid high leverage RP. He’ll be 31 and into his 1st arbitration year in ’24. Was always hoping he’d get a shot in NY but his control was always an issue.
Make it happen cards. Could be a nice late season addition once he comes back from injury.
All these people blaming Tampa lol, he barely even pitched the 2 years he was there. Hard for a team to go through an offseason carrying a guy on the 40 that they know won’t pitch until late august at best.
I can see the Dodgers lining up with TB on a trade. This is the kinda thing LAD does on a regular basis, and it usually pays off.
I totally nailed this!
The Rangers could use a controllable bullpen arm. Perfect match…
I agree, seems like a good fit for a bullpen starved team. Maybe we can have Nate Lowe back in exchange? For all the talk about the Rays fleecing people in trades, parting with Lowe was an epically bad move on the Rays part. They may be experts at evaluating pitching, not so much hitting.
I hope you are joking. Take Tavares (Willy’s cousin) and Huff maybe? Add in Orneleas or some guy if necessary.
Yeah, definitely joking. If you DFA someone, you basically have to take what they give you.
100% agree. They fall in love with good glove middle infielders that never hit.
Well, at least we still have Rasmussen from the Adames trade. Too bad, Feyereisen was a legit back end bullpen guy. I hope he catches on somewhere else (preferably outside of the AL East).
JP for Carrasco… simple!
Back to WI and an organization he’s familiar with makes a lot of sense
I’ve known JP since about kindergarten, we both grew up in Fiver Falls WI and played rec ball together, kid was fat slow and couldn’t throw but has really impressed with what he’s accomplished. (Don’t know for sure but it seems the trainers at Stevens Point are serving up more than just Gatorade….) but he put in the work/dedication and He also comes from a great supportive family so I doubt this is the last we will see of him in baseball. I’d bet he comes back better than ever and wouldn’t be surprised to see him land with the Twins or even Brewers again. side note he was on the same high school team as Alex Call who hit a walkoff homer against Josh Hader and the San Diego Padres last year.
Padres offer: 7 years, $157 mil.
Mets counter with 8/$195.
I wonder if the Guardians bought his bus ticket to CLE yet?
Dang, yes, I can see why they’ve done that but I would have liked to have kept him.
… actually, come to think of it, that’s a typical lament of a Rays fan
JP for Tatis Jr., straight up. Chance to steal a march on the Dodgers et. Al. and get a valuable lefty out of pen.