Rays sign RP to minor league contract

The Tampa Bay Rays signed RP Cory Wade yesterday to a minor-league contract. Wade, 27, missed all of the 2010 season after having should surgery. Wade is 6’2″, 190 pounds and has appeared in 82 major league games while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The relief pitcher has a career 4-4 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.051 WHIP. Scouting reports on Wade show that he has a fastball which can approach the low 90′s. He also throws a very good curveball and a changeup. Of course the big “if” for the Tampa Bay Rays will be if Wade can completely recover from his shoulder surgery while still being an effective pitcher, but the Rays have had recent success with players coming off injuries and plugging them into the bullpen rotation. Given the amount of turnover that the Rays’ relief staff will experience this season, if Wade shows he can be effective, he should be on the Rays final roster on opening day.