The Rays are in a position to be adding talent as we approach the trade deadline.
Looking to bolster their bullpen, the Tampa Bay Rays announced the acquisition of lefty-reliever Dan Jennings from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
In return, the White Sox are getting the Rays’ No.10 prospect, 1B Casey Gillaspie. A former first-round pick out of Wichita State, Gillaspie is having his worst season in the minors since being drafted in 2014. He’s batting just .227 on the season.
At the start of the 2017 campaign, Gillaspie was listed as the No.5 prospect in the Tampa Bay farm system. After the top-prospects list was updated earlier this week, Gillaspie fell to No.10. With the recent selection of Brendan McKay with the 4th overall pick, Gillaspie became expendable.
The White Sox are in full-blown rebuild and have now made three trades already this month.
Jennings provides the Rays with durability. He’s pitched in more games (48) than any LH reliever in the American League.
Among reasons #Rays like Jennings: 1 XB hit allowed this season to LH batters, ground ball rate of 58.5 pct, 6th best in AL (min 40 inn)
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 27, 2017
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays DFA’d Diego Moreno after activating him from the DL yesterday. In order for Jennings to join the active 25-man roster another move will need to be made before his arrival. The Rays expect Jennings to be in New York, ready to go, Thursday evening when the team takes on the Yankees.
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The club also announced that Austin Pruitt would be called up to start in place of Jake Odorizzi (10-day DL; back) on Friday.
