How did the Rays end up short on arms? - Tampa Bay Times

CHICAGO — A lot of what the Rays have done in the first two weeks of this season has been uncharacteristic, such as playing sloppy defense and running into outs.

But perhaps what stands out most is their arms shortage.

A team that for years has been built with pitching depth has been scrambling almost daily to adjust the staff, using a majors-most 21 in its first 11 games, including four call-ups and two outside acquisitions. And to think, the Rays used a team-record 38 pitchers last year.

Injuries have been the primary issue in 2022, as five pitchers — including starters Luis Patino and Ryan Yarbrough, and top fill-in Shane Baz — were hurt since the start of spring training.

The Rays are far from the only team feeling the pain. Most have had injury issues, seemingly tied in many cases to the delayed and abbreviated spring training thanks to the lockout and labor settlement. And those teams are also making moves.

“We always are planning for the worst-case scenario,” general manager Peter Bendix said. “But so is everybody else. And there’s only so much depth that you can get.”

The Rays seem to have been caught particularly short on starters, which further taxes the bullpen.

Losing Patino and Baz (for at least two months) and Yarbrough (for at least another week) hurt worse given that Yonny Chirinos, Tyler Glasnow and Brendan McKay already were sidelined for at least the early part of this season due to previous injuries.

The Rays may soon have Ryan Yarbrough back in the lineup. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

With prospects Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman among those traded last year, Tommy Romero was left as the best candidate at Triple-A, but he had a rough debut last week (though a better ensuing relief outing) and was sent back to Durham.

Next up? Unclear.

To be fair, counting the injured starters, Romero would be roughly 11th on their depth chart, so maybe their predicament is understandable. Also, as Bendix said, in a given moment “it feels more dire than it probably is if you take a step back.”

With Josh Fleming already moving into the rotation, long reliever Chris Mazza — though he hasn’t been sharp — could be used to start or in a bulk-inning role. Beyond Romero, options on the current Durham roster look to be career minor-leaguer Easton McGee and journeyman Robert Dugger. Young prospects Taj Bradley and Seth Johnson aren’t considered ready. Two other candidates on minor-league deals, David Hess and Aaron Slegers, are working their way back from medical issues.

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A case could be made to have hung on to a couple more of the team-record 38 pitchers who helped last year, such as Dietrich Enns (who got big bucks to go to Japan). Or to have added another veteran besides Corey Kluber. The no-contact rules during the lockout complicated offseason signings, which is part of the reason the Rays are scrambling now, still looking to add more arms.

“That’s pitching,” Bendix said. “The next time we have too much will be the first time.”

Where did they all go?

The Rays used a team-record 38 pitchers last year, but most of that depth was dispersed (* indicates players on minor-league deals):

On active roster (9)

Shane McClanahan [ CHARLES REX ARBOGAST | Associated Press ]

RH J.P. Feyereisen

LH Josh Fleming

RH Andrew Kittredge

RH Chris Mazza

LH Shane McClanahan

RH Drew Rasmussen

LH Jeffrey Springs

RH Ryan Thompson

RH Matt Wisler

Injured this spring/season (5)

RH Shane Baz

RH JT Chargois

RH Pete Fairbanks

RH Luis Patino

LH Ryan Yarbrough

Recovering from previous injury (5)

RH Nick Anderson

RH Tyler Glasnow

RH David Hess*

LH Brendan McKay

LH Cody Reed*

Also recovering from injury, but didn’t pitch for Rays in 2021: RH Yonny Chirinos, RH Aaron Slegers*

Traded/claimed (3)

RH Louis Head, to Marlins

RH Brent Honeywell Jr., to A’s

LH Ryan Sherriff, by Phillies

Left as free agents (8)

RH Chris Archer, to Twins

RH Shawn Armstrong, to Marlins

LH Dietrich Enns, to Seibu/Japan

RH DJ Johnson, unsigned

RH Collin McHugh, to Braves

RH David Robertson, to Cubs

RH Chaz Roe, unsigned

RH Michael Wacha, to Red Sox

Traded/claimed during 2021 season (7)

Evan Phillips, right [ ASHLEY LANDIS | Associated Press ]

RH Chris Ellis, by Orioles

LH Rich Hill, to Mets

RH Joey Krehbiel, by Orioles

RH Evan Phillips, by Dodgers

RH Sean Poppen, by D’backs

RH Trevor Richards, to Brewers

RH Hunter Strickland, to Angels

Retired (1)

LHP Adam Conley

2021 Triple-A pitchers traded/claimed (4)

Joe Ryan [ MICHAEL DWYER | Associated Press ]

RH Tobias Myers, to Indians

LH Kenny Rosenberg, by Angels

RH Joe Ryan, to Twins

RH Drew Strotman, to Twins

• • •

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