Right-hander Taj Bradley was scheduled to start today’s Grapefruit League contest for the Rays but was a late scratch. The righty is dealing with pectoral tightness and will get an MRI, per Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times (X links).
At this point, it’s unclear if the club considers the issue to be severe or if scratching Bradley was more precautionary, but the MRI suggests at least some level of concern. For the time being, it will likely be a source of worry for the club and its fans, especially with the precarious nature of the club’s rotation depth.
Last year, each of Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan underwent a UCL surgery of some kind. McClanahan is likely to miss the entire 2024 season while Rasmussen and Springs are likely looking at midseason returns. In addition to those injuries, the club also flipped Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers in a cost-cutting move.
Coming into 2024, the Tampa rotation projects as Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Zack Littell, Ryan Pepiot and Bradley, with plenty of question marks in that group. Eflin made 31 starts last year but has battled persistent knee issues in his career and 2023 was just his second time getting over 130 innings in a season. Civale has dealt with various ailments, including shoulder, forearm and wrist injuries, having never hit 125 frames in any big league season of his career. Littell has primarily been a reliever and was only moved to a rotation gig by the Rays last year. Pepiot, acquired in the Glasnow deal, has been a notable prospect but has less than 80 big league innings to his name. His 127 2/3 innings in 2022, between the majors and minors, are his personal high.
Bradley came into 2023 as one of the club’s better prospects but didn’t hit the ground running in the big leagues. He posted a 5.59 earned run average in 104 2/3 frames last year, despite strong strikeout and walk rates of 28% and 8.5%, respectively. He may have been hampered by a 67.7% strand rate but his 23 home runs allowed on the season also may have played a role in that. ERA estimators remained fairly bullish that he deserved better than his bottom line results, as he had a 4.79 FIP and 3.82 SIERA last year.
Regardless of how one interprets last year’s results, Bradley clearly came into camp as a key part of the rotation mix. With the absences of McClanahan, Rasmussen and Springs and the general uncertainty around the healthy options, Bradley was clearly going to be in the plans in Tampa.
If he ends up needing to miss any time, the club will have to dig even further into its starting depth. Shane Baz is on the roster but will be facing workload limitations this year after he missed all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Japanese hurler Naoyuki Uwasawa is in camp on a minor league deal but there were concerns about his viability in the majors and he has allowed 13 earned runs in 5 2/3 spring innings thus far. Jacob Lopez is also on the 40-man but has just 12 1/3 innings of major league work thus far.
There’s a fair amount of precarity in that group overall and any further subtractions will only exacerbate the situation, so the club will surely be hoping that the MRI doesn’t find anything terribly concerning for Bradley’s health.
“Trevor is waiting.”
Or so we’ve been told by his account here.
Don’t summon him! He’s like Beetlejuice, don’t say his name!
Bauer, Bauer, Bauer
Signed Rays fan
@RazorRamonie
As a signed Rays fan, you’re probably enjoying the drama from a safe distance!
@acoss13
True, Trevor Bauer discussions can be like summoning Beetlejuice. But interestingly, the budget constraints might just align for him.
He’d fit within their budget constraints
He’d fit in any team’s budget at league minimum but I don’t think it’s happening, not in 2024 at least.
@desertball
Budget constraints can be tricky, but Bauer at league minimum would indeed raise eyebrows. 2024 might have surprises.
I’ve met cats and dogs smarter than Corey and Trevor.
@Tom the ray fan
Comparing intelligence with pets? Bold take, Tom! Baseball discussions always bring out unique perspectives.
@Long Suffering Guardians Fan
Given the rate of pitchers going down this season, I wouldn’t be surprised that the MLB suspends the season before they give Bauer another chance.
@Long Suffering Guardians Fan
Be careful with summoning Trevor. Let’s not jinx it!
@Long Suff
When the only tool in your toolbox is a hammer, then all the problems of the world looks like a nail.
I really wish folks would give this discussion a rest.
Hope Taj isn’t out for any DL from the pec tightness. Teams will need to push for a bigger roster to hold all these extra spot start/long men/middle relievers that are going to have to eat innings with the rash of starter injuries (whether this a recent increase or simply a continuation of a trend).
Rays need new training/medical staff
Their entire rotation of all stars will be on the DL
This is becoming absurd !
Their entire rotation is already on the IL. With Wander’s career in limbo as well i think this organization is in trouble moving forward. They always seem to persevere but this is getting insurmountable for even them
@Johnny utah
Injuries are hitting the Rays hard. A reevaluation of their training and medical staff might be in order.
Johnny – There’s a reason why the Rays have produced so many injured pitchers. They (and perhaps the Marlins as well) don’t want to spend money signing players beyond their arbitration years, so they pitch them harder and more recklessly to win now.
How often has Tampa extended a pitcher beyond his arbitration years?
Rays win total projected at 84. Under is e z money
I wouldn’t blame the staff as much as blaming their love of SABRmetrics and spin rate. They get these guys who spin the ball like crazy, find ways to get them to spin it even faster, and then have 3-5 guys go down with Tommy John. It’s not a medical or bad training staff problem, but a problem with Kyle Snider encouraging the staff to get more rotation on breaking pitches which puts more strain on the arm and leads to all of the injuries.
You get an MRI, and you get an MRI, and you get an MRI…
Might as well get everyone an MRI, they’re going out like candy this Spring Training…
@acoss13
Multiple injuries and MRIs during Spring Training do make it seem like candy. Quite a challenging start!
Pectoral tightness? Muscle strains, discomfort, cramps… is it just me or is this ridiculous?
It’s ST as players ramp up for a long season.
Ppl will want to blame the pitch clock for more injuries and who knows what else, but at the end of the day, injuries will continue to happen at an alarming rate when pitchers are throwing max effort with each pitch.
It’s not a matter of if these guys will sustain a serious soft tissue injury, it’s a matter of when.
Blame the clock ? Thats news to me.
At this point, I just expect it in time with every player then it’s not disappointing when it happens
Not a good week if you’re a pitcher in the AL East. Baltimore and Toronto should shroud their rotation in bubble wrap until opening day.
Gausman & Bradish already have tested those teams’ bladders…
Lol. Bet the house on rays less than 84.5 wins. no way they win more than 80
80? I’ll take the over on that. Rays have some nutty magic down there and will turn some waiver wire straw into gold like Rumpelstiltskin. Can’t ever count them out it seems.
Clevinger & Lourenzen would be perfect fits…
Unfortunately it’s mid March and all the good pitchers have already signed.
Wait a minute…….