The Tampa Bay Rays received two minor league pitchers from the Diamondbacks to complete the deal that sent outfielder Steven Souza Jr. to Arizona earlier this spring.
Right-handed starter Sam McWilliams and left-handed reliever Colin Poche join the Rays organization as the players to be named later in the trade. Tampa Bay previously received left-handed pitching prospect Anthony Banda from Arizona and second baseman Nick Solak from New York as part of the trade.
So far in 2018, McWilliams, 22, was 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA (6 ER in 25 2/3 IP) in five starts for Class-A Visalia. The former eighth round pick in the 2014 amateur draft is 17-18 with a 3.86 ERA over his five minor league seasons. He will be assigned to the Rays’ High-A affiliate in Port Charlotte.
Poche, 24, hasn’t allowed a run in nine appearances (11 innings) for Double-A Jackson this season while holding opponents to a .086 average and averaging over 18 strikeouts per nine innings. Over parts of three minor league seasons, Poche, a 14th round pick in 2016, is 4-3 with a 1.75 ERA in 61 appearances.
Souza, who suffered a strained pectoral muscle in March, played in an extended spring training game on Tuesday. No timetable has been set for Souza to make his regular season debut for the Diamondbacks.
ROSTER MOVES
The Rays placed righty Yonny Chirinos on the 10-day disabled list. The rookie left Saturday’s game after the second inning and felt continued discomfort during his bullpen session on Tuesday. Chirinos will be reevaluated when the team returns home on Thursday.
Lefty Ryan Yarbrough was recalled from Triple-A Durham to take Chirinos’ spot on the roster.
