The Rays have released right-hander Chris Devenski after designating him for assignment last week, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. He’s now a free agent.
Any team can now sign Devenski to a big league or minor league deal. A new club would only be responsible for the prorated league minimum for any time he spends on the big league roster/injured list. That number would be subtracted from what the Rays owe, but Tampa Bay is on the hook for the bulk of the remainder of his $1.1MM salary.
Devenski, 33, joined the Rays late in the 2023 season after being cut loose by the Angels and tossed 8 2/3 sharp innings down the stretch, holding opponents to a pair of runs on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. He added another two shutout innings (one hit allowed) during the postseason. The Rays re-signed him to a big league deal over the winter, but Devenski hasn’t replicated that small-sample success this time around.
In 2024, Devenski pitched 26 2/3 innings in 19 appearances out of the bullpen, yielding a gloomy 6.75 ERA with a below-average 19.7% strikeout rate against a weighty 11.5% walk rate. He’s also been immensely homer-prone, surrendering nine long balls in his brief stint — an average of 3.04 homers per nine innings pitched.
Early in his career, Devenski was a powerhouse reliever for the Astros, pitching to a 2.38 ERA in 189 innings of relief from 2016-17 and striking out 28.2% of opponents versus a 6.4% walk rate. His results have taken a notable step back since that time, in part due to injuries. Most notably, Devenski underwent Tommy John surgery in 2021, limiting him to 7 1/3 innings that season and just 33 2/3 innings the following season.
Devenski’s bread and butter has long been a plus changeup that helps him neutralize left-handed opponents. It’s given him reverse splits throughout his career, and that’s carried into the 2024 season. He’s held lefties to a .211/.262/.439 slash in 61 plate appearances this season. In an identical number of plate appearances, however, righties have torched him with a .314/.426/.745 batting line.
He was so good those first years with the Astros
2.38 ERA in 189 IP first 2 years.
5.42 ERA in 211 IP since. Steep decline for sure. Hope he can find some old magic.
Fletcher, did someone let you out of you cage again?
Good boy, go on back in.
ruff
Mr Devenski? Jed Hoyer is on line 1.
I can definitely see Hoyer signing him to a minor league deal. Cubs bullpen needs help but Hoyer is going to go straight to the bargain bin…
Blue Jays could probably use him.
“It’s given him reverse splits throughout his career, ”
Devinski is likely one 0f the few players who actually does have a reverse split
In 800 PA vs lefties he has 51 BB’s and 219 K’s
In 836 PA vs righties he has 60 BB’S and 196 K’s
Once you work in the regression, it’s likely a very slight reverse split.
Cubs new Closer. Go get him Jed.
Thank god. He was booty cheeks
Welcome to Citifield!
Mets will grab him.
Oh no! He was our best bullpen guy! Jk. Jk.