Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Shane McClanahan

Rays To Look For Catching Help

By | at

The Rays acquired two catchers at this year’s trade deadline but are apparently not content with them. President of baseball operations Erik Neander told Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times that both backstops did good things but “we’re going to keep looking.”

The catching position in Tampa has been a revolving door for many years now. Mike Zunino got the majority of the playing time back there in the 2019 to 2022 stretch but his performance tailed off in the final year of that span. In 2023, the Rays used Francisco Mejia, Christian Bethancourt and René Pinto without any of those three taking firm hold of the job.

Last year, Ben Rortvedt got most of the playing time and had a decent year but the Rays didn’t want to rely on him, so they signed Danny Jansen to a one-year deal for 2025. Rortvedt’s results backed up and he was outrighted off the roster in May. He was later flipped to the Dodgers as part of a three-team deadline trade which brought Hunter Feduccia to the Rays. Jansen was also sent out at the deadline, going to the Brewers, as the Rays acquired Nick Fortes from the Marlins.

As of today, Fortes and Feduccia are the only two backstops on the 40-man roster. Fortes has caught 2,708 2/3 innings over five big league seasons with strong defensive numbers. However, his offense is lacking, as he has a .224/.280/.345 line and 72 wRC+ in his career. Feduccia has a much shorter track record, with just 119 plate appearances in the majors and a .170/.286/.220 line in those. Prospect Dominic Keegan could get a 40-man spot this winter since he will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft, though he’s a bat-first catcher who didn’t hit much in his first taste of Triple-A this year.

Given that those are the top in-house options, it’s understandable that they would be open to bringing in reinforcements. Both Fortes and Feduccia are still optionable, so adding another catcher from outside the organization and bumping one guy down to Triple-A as depth could be a sensible path to consider.

Looking to the free agent market, there are a few options. J.T. Realmuto is the biggest name but it would be a surprise if he didn’t return to the Phillies on a new deal. Re-signing Jansen is something the Rays could consider. Victor Caratini is coming off a respectable two-year run with the Astros. There are a few other decent veterans like Elias Díaz and Luke Maile.

The trade market could have some names of interest. The Cardinals are going into a rebuild and could perhaps consider moving Iván Herrera, though they mostly used him as a designated hitter this year. The Twins just did a big deadline sell-off and have Ryan Jeffers under control for one more season. The Rangers might be looking to make some changes and control Jonah Heim for one more year. The Pirates have four catchers on their 40-man and someone might get crowded out.

Elsewhere on the roster, Neander also provided Topkin with a number of injury updates, noting that most of the players who finished the season on the injured list are expected to be ready for spring training. That includes left-hander Shane McClanahan, though Neander also is quick to point out that there’s loads of uncertainty for the southpaw.

“This has been a tough injury. You feel the most for Shane — just about ready to take the ball opening day and then have an injury that there’s virtually no precedent for it. And then not knowing your timeline — might be a few weeks, might be a few months. High confidence it’s going to heal, but the timeline has kind of been up in the air. … ” Neander said. “He is doing everything a human being could do and more to try to be ready. This has been really difficult on him. We’re doing everything we can to support him. Our hope is that by the time we get to camp this is fully resolved, he’s on the appropriate throwing program going into camp, and we go from there.”

McClanahan hasn’t pitched in a big league game since August of 2023. He required Tommy John surgery at that time and missed the entire 2024 campaign. The Rays were hoping to have him healthy for 2025 but he suffered some triceps tightness in spring training. This was later revealed to be a nerve problem, which landed him on the injured list to start the year. He began a rehab assignment in July but that lasted only three appearances. He underwent a season-ending radial nerve decompression in August.

It puts the Rays in a tough spot. Given that the issue is apparently so unprecedented, it makes it tough to map out a plan for 2026, especially since McClanahan has now missed more than two full seasons.

“Obviously, missing (from) August 2023 through the end of ’25, that’s a lot of missed time,” Neander said. “So you get into kind of, ‘All right, what’s best for him?’ and how you build him up and how you do all that responsibly. But our expectation from a health standpoint is this at some point here will turn into a normal winter, and the normal build-up in the camp, and we can go from there.”

Neander listed two pitchers who aren’t expected to be healthy by spring training: Manuel Rodríguez and Brian Van Belle. It was reported in July that Rodríguez would require some kind of elbow surgery, though the full extent wasn’t clear at that time. Per Topkin’s piece, Rodríguez underwent flexor tendon surgery and is targeting a June return. Van Belle is more up in the air right now, as he may have an ulnar collateral ligament sprain and is going to visit Dr. Keith Meister to decide on his next steps.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Gorski, Imagn Images

Shane McClanahan Undergoes Season-Ending Arm Procedure To Address Nerve Problem

By | at

Shane McClanahan’s 2025 season is officially over, as Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that the southpaw underwent a surgery on his throwing arm today, intended to try and fix a long-lingering nerve problem.  The procedure officially closes the book on whatever chance there was that the southpaw could return to the majors before season’s end.

Troublingly, Cash indicated that there isn’t any guarantee that the surgery will solve the issue once and for all.  “[The doctor] is not sitting there saying ’he’s fixed.’  That’s not the case,” Cash told media, including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.  “It’s, ’this is one step, and we’ll see how this goes.’  And hopefully we get good results.  And if we don’t, then let doctors decide what else is needed, if anything.”

The uncertain nature of nerve-related injuries has now led to months of frustration for McClanahan, and cost him another year of his promising career.  It was almost exactly two years ago that McClanahan underwent a Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of 2024, though it seemed like he emerged from that rehab in good shape, as he tossed seven scoreless innings in Spring Training and looked well on his way being part of the Opening Day rotation.

However, late in camp, the nerve problem in McClanahan’s left triceps emerged.  He began the year on the 15-day injured list, and was shifted to the 60-day IL near the end of April.  McClanahan was feeling well enough to begin a minor league rehab assignment in July and pitched in three games before his rehab was shut down due to biceps tendinitis.

During a radio interview on Friday, Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said McClanahan’s nerve problem was “still in play just enough” to keep the left-hander from resuming his throwing progression, with “no huge setbacks, but also no huge progress or breakthroughs.”  Neander also made note of the unique nature of the injury, saying “this is a new one to all of us really, and in many regards to the baseball community.  So we’re learning as we go.”

McClanahan’s best-case scenario is now a clean bill of health for Opening Day 2026.  While this gives McClanahan six months of recovery time until the start of Spring Training, it is clear that no timeline will be established until McClanahan is examined post-surgery.

Losing McClanahan in 2023 was a big blow to a Rays team that reached the postseason, but was swept out of the wild card series by the eventual World Series champion Rangers.  Tampa Bay went 80-82 in 2024 and, at 57-62 entering today’s action, is on pace for another losing record, as some early-season success was undone by a brutal slump in July.  One can only guess as to how the last three seasons might’ve differed for the Rays if they’d had a pitcher who was emerging as the ace of the rotation.

In a rare case of a player getting his first taste of MLB action in the playoffs, McClanahan’s first four games came during the 2020 postseason, as he posted an 8.31 ERA in 4 1/3 relief innings for a Rays team that reached the World Series.  McClanahan made his official debut in 2021, and hit the ground running in 2021 by finishing seventh in AL Cy Young Award voting.  He was then named an All-Star in both 2022 and 2023, and the 2022 campaign (McClanahan’s only full big league season) saw him finish sixth in AL Cy Young Award voting.  Over 404 2/3 regular-season innings, McClanahan has a 3.02 ERA, 46.8% grounder rate, 28% strikeout rate, and 7.1% walk rate.

Tampa signed McClanahan to a two-year, $7.2MM deal in January 2024 that allowed the two sides to avoid arbitration for the lefty’s first two years of eligibility.  As a Super Two player, McClanahan is arb-eligible both this winter and during the 2026-27 offseason, though his 2026 salary won’t be very high given his two years on the IL.  Injury uncertainty notwithstanding, there would seem to be very little chance the Rays would non-tender McClanahan given his modest price tag, and his upside if he is able to return healthy for 2026.

Latest On Shane McClanahan

By | at

Shane McClanahan has been sidelined all season by a triceps nerve injury that arose during Spring Training.  This latest issue added to what was already an extended absence for the left-hander following Tommy John surgery in August 2023, and it has now been over two years since McClanahan threw his last pitch in a Major League game.

Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander gave a sobering update on McClanahan’s status during a radio appearance on WDAE on Friday (hat tip to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times), and the lack of any new information provides fresh doubt that we’ll see McClanahan in action this year.  The southpaw is still dealing with “lingering symptoms,” according to Neander, and is “not getting over the hump” in terms of readiness.

“No huge setbacks, but also no huge progress or breakthroughs.  The clock’s obviously ticking at this point as we sit here today….We’re not getting the progress that we or certainly he is hoping for.  Really unfortunate.  But we’ve got to do what’s best for him and take care of him and try to stay at it the best we can.”

It seemed like McClanahan was on the road to recovery when he started a minor league rehab assignment in July, but after three outings, he was shut down due to biceps tendinitis.  Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told MLB.com and other reporters on July 28 that McClanahan “felt okay, nothing great” after a game of catch from a 60-foot distance.

Neander didn’t mention the biceps problem so it would seem like that injury has been resolved.  However, the lingering nerve problem “is still in play just enough.  This is a new one to all of us really, and in many regards to the baseball community.  So we’re learning as we go.”

Selected 31st overall by the Rays in the 2018 draft, McClanahan posted a 3.02 ERA, 46.8% grounder rate, 28% strikeout rate, and 7.1% walk rate over 404 2/3 innings during the 2021-23 seasons.  After finishing seventh in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, McClanahan followed with a sixth-place finish in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2022, and he was named to the AL All-Star roster in both 2022 and 2023.  By all appearances it seemed like McClanahan was emerging as an ace of Tampa’s rotation, before his career was suddenly put on ice.

As Neander noted, McClanahan doesn’t have much time remaining before the season is over.  The unclear nature of nerve injuries means that McClanahan could technically wake up tomorrow and feel fine, yet it might take such a sudden turn-around to give the lefty a chance at a 2025 return.  Given that he is still limited to light throwing, McClanahan would still need at least a month for a full throwing progression (i.e. bullpen sessions, live batting practices, and several minor league rehab games) that would get him back to game readiness.

If he is physically able, returning even for one appearance with the Rays would surely give McClanahan some peace of mind heading into the offseason.  Building up enough arm strength to return as a reliever wouldn’t take as long as it would take to prepare for a starter’s workload, so a temporary move to the bullpen could be possible if McClanahan simply wants to pitch in any capacity.  On the other hand, Tampa Bay might opt to simply shut him down if the timeline becomes too compressed, as the 57-62 Rays are only on the outskirts of the wild card race and aren’t likely to be playing meaningful games in late September.

Rays Notes: Caballero, Diaz, McClanahan

By | at

Rays utilityman José Caballero has gotten trade attention from some other clubs, reports Francys Romero. The versatile infielder is operating as a backup behind Tampa Bay’s typical starting infield of Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe, Junior Caminero and Ha-Seong Kim. Lowe went on the injured list this morning with ankle tendinitis, so Caballero drew into tonight’s lineup at second base. Taylor Walls will probably get the bulk of the playing time in place of Lowe, yet he was needed at shortstop today because Kim is day-to-day with lower back discomfort.

Caballero, 28 next month, has a light bat but provides value on defense and as a baserunner. He led the American League with 44 stolen bases last season, though he was also caught an MLB-high 16 times. Caballero is 32-39 as a basestealer this year. FanGraphs has graded him as an above-average overall baserunner in each of his three big league seasons. Caballero has also rated as a plus defender at each of second base, third base and shortstop.

The secondary skills have made Caballero an above replacement level performer in each of his three seasons. He has never provided much at the plate, however. The righty hitter owns a .218/.315/.310 slash with two home runs and an elevated 30.3% strikeout rate in 251 plate appearances this year. Caballero has never reached double digits in home runs nor hit above .230 in a season. He’ll qualify for arbitration for the first time this offseason as a Super Two player.

Tampa Bay wouldn’t get a huge return for Caballero. It nevertheless stands to reason they’d be open to offers, as he’s arguably a bit superfluous with Walls also on the roster. Whether to trade designated hitter/corner infielder Yandy Díaz is a much bigger question for the front office.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggested last week that the Rays are likely to hold Díaz, who is signed for another year and a half on a deal that also includes a 2027 club option. Romero hears similarly, posting that they intend to keep Díaz as they compete for a playoff spot. The Rays are half a game behind the Red Sox for the AL’s last Wild Card spot. Díaz has popped 16 homers with a robust .293/.352/.474 batting line this year.

Even as they’re in position to add before next week’s deadline, the Rays could hear teams out on their rotation depth. Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot make for a strong top two. It seems unlikely that they’d move Shane Baz. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale has reported that the Rays could consider offers on Taj Bradley, while Zack Littell is a potential trade candidate as an impending free agent. Dealing a starter would open a rotation spot for hard-throwing Joe Boyle, who is currently operating in a multi-inning relief capacity.

The Rays still await a return from ace Shane McClanahan. The two-time All-Star has not pitched in an MLB game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. He sustained a triceps nerve injury during Spring Training that cost him the first half. McClanahan had a setback last month and has now hit another speed bump — albeit one that seems fairly minor.

According to the MLB.com injury tracker, his minor league rehab assignment has been halted after he felt biceps soreness in his most recent appearance. Manager Kevin Cash told team reporter Ryan Bass that the biceps discomfort is unrelated to the triceps problem. Cash suggested McClanahan could resume a throwing program within a few days, but he won’t take the ball for his previously scheduled rehab start at Triple-A Durham on Thursday.

Rays Notes: Kim, Bigge, McClanahan

By | at

The Rays signed infielder Ha-Seong Kim to a two-year, $29MM contract back in February but he has yet to play a game for the club after undergoing shoulder surgery late last year. That may be close to changing, however, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Kim is set to be evaluated for a possible return to the majors after he plays what could be his final rehab game with Triple-A Durham later today. Rays manager Kevin Cash suggested that the club is “very encouraged” by Kim’s progress, but president of baseball operations Erik Neander made clear that an immediate return to the majors is not guaranteed.

“We’ll get through these next three days and then just get an idea of where he’s at,” Neander said, as relayed by Topkin. “If he needs a little more time, we’ll be there to provide it. If he feels like he’s close and ready, then we’ll keep an open mind. We’re hopefully closing in on an activation but still kind of day-to-day to see how he responds to the added workload.”

When he does return, Kim will be joining a resurgent Rays club that has jumped out to a 47-36 record, just half a game back of the Yankees for control of the AL East thanks to a 17-8 run in the month of June. While the team has largely been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, they have been forced to rely on somewhat middling production out of the shortstop position as Jose Caballero and Taylor Walls split time at the position. Kim is a 106 wRC+ hitter over the 2022-24 seasons and a Gold Glove caliber defender all over the infield, which should be a substantial upgrade over that duo’s lackluster hitting while maintaining the quality defense Tampa has gotten from the position.

Topkin also writes that right-hander Hunter Bigge’s recovery from surgery to repair multiple facial fractures after he was struck by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Adley Rutschman is going well enough that the Rays do not expect the surgery to interfere with his ability to return this season. Bigge remains on a soft food diet and has not yet been cleared for physical activity amid concerns that it would put stress on the surgically repaired areas of his face, but he’ll start playing catch once cleared to do so. Of course, Bigge was already shelved by a lat strain when he was struck by Rutschman’s foul ball, so Bigge will have to resume rehabbing that prior injury once he’s cleared for physical activity. Prior to those injuries, Bigge was making himself a major part of the Rays bullpen with a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings this year.

In other positive news, Topkin notes that southpaw Shane McClanahan is expected to throw a full-distance bullpen session this coming Tuesday. It will be the southpaw’s first full bullpen since he paused his rehab earlier this month to visit a nerve specialist. The lefty is surely still a ways away from a return given that he hasn’t resumed facing live hitters and would need a significant rehab assignment after such a long layoff from big league games, but with the Rays now firmly in postseason contention it’s not hard to imagine McClanahan taking a big league mound for the club at some point this year. Should McClanahan make it back in time for October, he’d form a terrifying one-two punch at the top of the Rays rotation alongside Drew Rasmussen.

Shane McClanahan Pauses Rehab, Seeking Further Opinions On Nerve Issue

By | at

The Rays were dealt a frustrating blow this evening, as Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that southpaw Shane McClanahan has paused his throwing progression and is seeking additional medical opinions on the nerve issue in his triceps that’s kept him sidelined since Spring Training. The decision came after McClanahan was “not feeling 100%” during his first full-distance bullpen session. Manager Kevin Cash described the situation to reporters (including Topkin) as McClanahan being “kind of in shutdown mode.”

It’s tough news for Rays fans, as the talented left-hander was eyeing a return in late July as recently as last week. McClanahan hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023 due to Tommy John surgery and the aforementioned nerve issue, but emerged as one of baseball’s most talented young starters during his three seasons in the league from 2021-23. He sports a career 3.02 ERA and 3.36 FIP across 404 2/3 innings of work. His resume also includes a fantastic 28.0% career strikeout rate and a 46.8% ground ball rate for his career.

Not being able to lean on McClanahan’s incredible talent at the top of the rotation last year is a major part of why the Rays stumbled to an 80-82 record and missed the postseason. Things are going better this year, as Tampa’s 36-31 record puts them in the second of the AL’s three Wild Card spots, just five games back of the Yankees for the AL East lead. The contributions of young bats like Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero have been key to the club’s success this year, and while Drew Rasmussen has done an admirable job as the team’s ace this year the Rays were surely counting on the return of McClanahan to help lift them down the stretch.

Outside of Rasmussen and a decent mid-rotation showing from Ryan Pepiot, the Rays haven’t gotten the best results from their rotation this year. Taj Bradley and Shane Baz have both been below-average pitchers this season, while Zack Littell has posted average results with shaky peripherals. A perennially changing but always talented cast of characters led by Pete Fairbanks in the bullpen has been excellent as always, but a strong bullpen can only do so much to prop up a rotation that lands in the bottom ten in baseball with a lackluster 4.35 FIP. It’s at least possible that McClanahan’s search for additional opinions will confirm that he’s ready to resume ramping up and this will be only a minor setback in his rehab, but for a pitcher who was already not guaranteed to return before August there’s real reason for concern that he could run out of time to get back before the end of the regular season in late September.

Should the Rays manage to keep the good times rolling and enter July as trade deadline buyers, the news regarding McClanahan seems likely to further amplify their need for rotation help. Tampa offloaded veteran rotation pieces Aaron Civale and Zach Eflin at last summer’s deadline, but adding a similar mid-rotation veteran to this pitching staff would go a long way to bolstering the rotation. Eflin himself could be on the market once again depending on how the Orioles decide to approach trade season in the midst of a nightmare year, and other pieces who could at least theoretically move this summer include players like Andrew Heaney, Tyler Mahle, Walker Buehler, and Zac Gallen although many of those players play for teams on the fence between buying and selling this summer.

Shane McClanahan Targeting Return Around Late July

By | at

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.

Rays Acquire Travis Jankowski From White Sox

By | at

TODAY: The Rays have officially announced the trade.  In corresponding moves, Montes was optioned to Triple-A, and left-hander Shane McClanahan was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

APRIL 25: The White Sox traded Travis Jankowski to the Rays, according to an announcement from Chicago’s Triple-A affiliate. The outfielder was on a minor league deal and will not require a 40-man roster spot for Tampa Bay. He’ll presumably head to their top farm team in Durham.

Jankowski broke camp with the Sox after signing a minor league deal midway through Spring Training. He only stuck on the roster for a week and a half. Chicago outrighted him off the 40-man, then brought him back on a new minor league contract after he elected free agency. He has spent the past three weeks in Charlotte, batting .261 with a homer in five games.

A left-handed hitter, Jankowski has appeared in the big leagues in 11 straight seasons. He has worked as a fourth or fifth outfielder for most of that time, only twice reaching 300 plate appearances. Jankowski doesn’t provide any kind of power, but he has shown generally solid plate discipline. He was a contributor to the Rangers during their World Series team in 2023, when he hit .263/.357/.332 with nearly as many walks as strikeouts across 287 trips.

The strikeout and walk rates both went in the wrong direction last year. Jankowski managed only a .200/.266/.242 slash across 207 plate appearances. He was limited to minor league offers as a result. He collected three hits, all singles, and one walk across 14 at-bats in his limited MLB look with the White Sox.

Tampa Bay placed Jake Mangum on the injured list yesterday because of a groin strain. They were already without Josh Lowe, Richie Palacios and Jonny DeLuca. They’re using an outfield of Christopher Morel, Kameron Misner and top prospect Chandler Simpson. Utilityman Coco Montes was recalled to replace Mangum. Third catcher Logan Driscoll is the only healthy position player who is on the 40-man roster and on an optional assignment in the minors. Jankowski joins Eloy Jiménez as non-roster outfield options with the Bulls.

Rays Place Shane McClanahan, Richie Palacios On Injured List

By | at

The Rays placed left-hander Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list and utilityman Richie Palacios on the 10-day IL today, with both placements retroactive to March 24.  McClanahan is dealing with a nerve problem in his left triceps, while Palacios has a fracture in his right ring finger.  Righty Hunter Bigge and outfielder Kameron Misner were called up from Triple-A and will be part of the Opening Day roster.

Palacios has missed the last week of Spring Training action due to the fracture, which is at the tip of ring finger.  Tampa skipper Kevin Cash told reporters (including Ryan Bass) last Friday that the injury was considered minor and that Palacios would miss “probably…a couple days,” but it appears as though the club has opted to sideline Palacios for a week into the season to give him a bit more time to heal up.

The left-handed hitting Palacios appeared in 92 games for the Rays last season, hitting .233/.346/.318 over 316 plate appearances (285 of them against right-handed pitching).  As one would expect from a part-time Rays player, Palacios saw action at multiple positions, primarily at second base and the two corner outfield slots plus a couple of games at third base and shortstop.  Misner is an outfield-only player, but he is another lefty bat who can provide more help in that department while Palacios is out.

It was known earlier this week that McClanahan’s nerve issue would send him to the season-opening IL, and delay his return to the big leagues after he missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery.  No timeline has been provided for when McClanahan might be ready to pitch, which isn’t unusual given the unpredictable state of nerve-related injuries.  McClanahan and the Rays can only wait for the nerve to calm, and once that happens, a ramp-up plan can be devised to plot out the southpaw’s official return to action.

In other Rays injury news, Cash told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that catcher Danny Jansen’s pulled rib muscle is feeling a bit better, but a simulated game today will determine whether or not Jansen can be available for Opening Day.  If Jansen is still feeling discomfort through the 5-6 simulated innings, Tampa Bay will likely put him on the 10-day IL and use Kenny Piper as the new backup catcher to Ben Rortvedt.  An 18th-round pick for the Rays in the 2021 draft, Piper has yet to make his MLB debut, and the Rays would have to select his contract into their open spot on the 40-man roster.

Shane McClanahan To Start Season On Rays’ Injured List

By | at

TODAY: McClanahan will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Rays manager Kevin Cash told John Romano (multiple links) and other reporters, but tests revealed that the left-hander is suffering only from a nerve problem in his triceps area.  The plan is to “calm the nerve down and then see how he progresses, get a ball back in his hand.  Probably the best news we could have heard,” Cash said.

MARCH 22: The Rays suffered a major injury scare this afternoon when southpaw Shane McClanahan exited his start in the third inning due to what the Rays later announced as triceps tightness. John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times relays that the issue is not thought to be related to his recent elbow surgery and that the lefty will undergo imaging on Sunday to determine the severity of the issue.

It’s a concerning situation for any pitcher, but a serious injury would be particularly devastating for McClanahan given that he missed the final two months of the 2023 campaign and the entirety of the 2024 season while rehabbing his aforementioned Tommy John surgery. When healthy, the soon to be 28-year-old hurler is on the shortlist for the best young arms in the sport, with a career 3.02 ERA (130 ERA+) and 3.36 FIP in 404 2/3 innings of work since he made his big league debut back in 2022. The southpaw’s career 28% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate further solidify him as a clear top-of-the-rotation arm, and the Rays currently have him poised to serve as the ace of a loaded rotation that also features arms like Ryan Pepiot and Drew Rasmussen.

Those plans appear to have now been scuttled, however, depending on what’s next for McClanahan. The severity of the issue and a potential timetable for his return won’t be completely clear until McClanahan’s tests come back. Even so, it should surprise no one if the Rays decide to proceed cautiously with their prized left-hander coming off of surgery. Even if the issue proves to be relatively insignificant, it would be understandable if the club decided to play it safe and place McClanahan on the injured list to open the season. They’re reasonably well equipped to do so if they choose, with Rasmussen, Pepiot, Taj Bradley, Zack Littell, and Shane Baz all healthy and ready to contribute to the rotation. Beyond that quintet, the club also has depth options such as Joe Boyle and Joe Rock in the fold as well as non-roster veteran Connor Seabold.

Even with that depth in place to handle an absence from McClanahan, a significant injury would be a gut punch for a Rays club that will already need to exceed expectations to compete in an AL East division that figures to be dominated by the Orioles, Yankees, and Red Sox this year after big offseasons for all three clubs. Comparatively, the Rays’ offseason was somewhat modest as they added only Ha-Seong Kim and Danny Jansen to the fold while shipping out Jeffrey Springs in a deal that brought back Boyle. Strong as the club’s rotation looks on paper, the Rays figure to lean on it heavily this year after losing both Isaac Paredes and Randy Arozarena from the lineup at last year’s trade deadline, leaving extra weight on the shoulders of Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe as the only established veterans left in an otherwise young and unproven lineup.

If the injury proves serious enough that the Rays need to consider adding from outside the organization to deepen their rotation mix, a handful of viable options such as Lance Lynn and Spencer Turnbull remain available in free agency. With that being said, any big league signings could be pushing it for the perennially low-budget Rays and they might instead prefer to wait and see if a non-roster invitee like Chris Flexen or Ross Stripling returns to the open market after opting out of a minor league deal.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top