The Rays have a timeline for the return of their ace. President of baseball operations Erik Neander told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM this week that Shane McClanahan is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday. Neander added that if things go as planned, McClanahan could begin a minor league rehab assignment by the end of the month and return to the big league club in “late July or early August, fingers crossed.”
McClanahan hasn’t pitched in a regular season game since 2023. He was amidst a second straight All-Star season and carried a 3.29 ERA over 115 innings. That’s when he came off the mound in early August with forearm tightness. McClanahan was headed for Tommy John surgery two weeks later. The late-season timing of the injury meant he was almost immediately ruled out for the entire ’24 campaign as well.
Tampa Bay was hopeful of getting McClanahan back at the beginning of this year. He looked sharp over three starts in Spring Training. That was halted when he suffered a nerve injury in his triceps midway through camp. His timeline had been uncertain until now. The Rays will hope for a smooth progression from here that’d allow McClanahan to make it back within the next couple months.
The target coincidentally aligns with the July 31 trade deadline. The Rays almost certainly aren’t going to move McClanahan, but his return could make the front office more comfortable dealing a different starter. Impending free agent Zack Littell is the most obvious trade candidate, but the Rays are generally open to listening to offers on anyone. They’ll presumably get calls on each of Ryan Pepiot, Drew Rasmussen, Taj Bradley and Shane Baz as well.
In other Rays injury news, Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times writes that outfielder Jonny DeLuca will be shut down from all baseball activities for another three weeks. DeLuca has been out since early April with a shoulder strain. He suffered a setback last week and is evidently going to miss quite some time.
I don’t even remember the last time i saw him
Miss him. Loved watching him pitch.
He’s still not on his way back? Crazy that Bieber might be back before him too. And he pitched last opening day.
Best comment on this thread
Drew Rassmussen has had it going, Taj Bradley pitched a good game the other day. A healthy McClanahan gives them six really good starters with two prospects in AAA lighting it up, Joe Boyle has a 1.69 ERA and a 52% GB rate in 48.0IP, Ian Seymour has a 12.75 K/9 and a 2.45 BB/9.
The Rays will have won the Springs for Boyle trade, the A’s lost a good one.
Who gets bumped to the bullpen when McLanahan returns? Are the Rays going to trade a pitcher for a bat? Where do they need an upgrade? Caballero and Caminero are playing great. You could say CF but they have a good corp of OF and Simpson was good in his first call up.
Baz to the bullpen, he could be good in that role.
I think springs is first to go just because he will be a free agent and that’s what the rays do. They’ll trade him for a couple controllable guys who are on their rookie deals.
That comment took a year to post.
Serious buffering/lag issues in Lake Cahoe
Haha I was so confused by your comment. I meant Littell. I feel embarrassed.
When he returns, we all should throw a party and invite everyone we knew. I’m going to bring the greatest gift and the card attached will say “thank you for being a friend.”