The Rays released left-hander José López, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The southpaw had been designated for assignment last week.
López, 24, came up through the Rays’ system and seemed to have a breakout season in 2022. He went from High-A to Double-A and then Triple-A last year, tossing a combined 59 1/3 innings across those three levels. He registered a 2.43 ERA in that time, striking out a tremendous 37.7% of batters faced, though also issuing walks to 15.1% of them.
Despite that strong season, the Rays couldn’t fit him onto their crowded roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft and he was nabbed by the Padres. His control issues continued to manifest in Spring Training, as he walked five batters in six innings. He wasn’t able to crack the Opening Day roster in San Diego and the Friars offered him back to the Rays, who accepted and sent him to Triple-A Durham.
Through June 10, he had tossed 26 innings at that level with a 5.19 ERA. He had lowered his walk rate to 11.1% but was also getting strikeouts at a reduced 23.1% clip. The Rays selected him to their 40-man roster at that point and he was able to make his major league debut by tossing two innings against the Rangers, allowing one earned run.
The Rays frequently cycle through pitchers at the fringes of their roster and quickly optioned Lopez back to Durham the next day. He was placed on the minor league injured list in early July, designated for assignment five days later and has now been released.
Oakland!!! I’m an A’s fan. Take him now. Young man ready to prove himself, what else could go wrong?
Please don’t call them Oakland. They identify as They/Vegas.
Maybe the Yankees could take him?
Pirates for sure
I think it’s kind of interesting that they just released him instead of going with an outright. He has basically no service time and hasn’t been outrighted before so they could have just kept him in the minors off the 40 man roster unless I’m missing something.
I watched him a few times in spring training when he was trying to crack SD’s roster and he does have major control issues so perhaps they just gave up on him, but it’s odd to me that he had enough potential this offseason to get taken in the Rule 5 and half a season later he’s being released completely.
I was also thinking about this, and I just realized it is because he is currently inured (or at least I assume since he was on the Durham IL). Injured players cannot be outrighted. The Rays did the same thing with Chris Muller earlier this year.
You learn something new everyday! Thanks for the explanation, makes a ton of sense.
Young enough that he is worth a chance on.
Anyone napping on that?
Just his bio suggests Lopez may have some upside left, just not in the middle of a pennant race, so at least a couple of the out of the race teams may have interest.
The Nationals need a LHP in the bullpen, if nothing else. With Sean Doolittle still recovering from an internal brace procedure they’ve been trying to get away with 2022 Futures Game pitcher Jose Ferrer as the only lefty in the pen. Only 25 years old, I’m shocked he got through waivers even if he’s currently injured.
Tigers are down a lefty with Alexander out.
Deja vu all over again, AJ? Carlton, Knehr or Wilson to the 60, Option Cosgrove or Waldron and take a swing here. If Lopez is washed then ya say sayonara, sukka!
Can the Padres now sign him to a minor league deal now? They liked him enough that they picked him up in Rule V before the season.