Rays Could Become the Latest To Convert a Reliever Into a Starter

Are the Rays Becoming a Bunch of Copycats?

Whether it’s the opener or the defensive shifts, the Tampa Bay Rays are always trying to push the limits of what works at the Major League Baseball level. When it comes to answering those questions on the pitching staff, they may have a perfect pitcher to attempt the reliever-turned-starter experiment.

Griffin Jax finished strong after a rocky beginning when he arrived via trade with the Minnesota Twins. When it comes to building a pitching staff, teams are increasingly searching for guys who can pitch in different roles. Think Seth Lugo, Reynaldo Lopez, Clay Holmes, etc. If the gambit works, it can save a team from spending loads of money in free agency on one of the most fickle creatures in baseball: starting pitchers.

Griffin Jax as a Starter

Jax, 30, was acquired by the Rays at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for starting pitcher Taj Bradley. It was a straight swap of two players who each hold a boatload of promise. It also represented a gamble that the Rays could turn around his performance. Jax posted a 3.60 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 20 innings for the Rays. The Arizona native has five pitches, although he utilizes his 97 mph fastball along with a filthy sweeper and changeup. His 37.3% whiff rate is in the 98th percentile, and his 35% strikeout rate is firmly in the 98th percentile. Those solid numbers represent a big turnaround from his underwhelming early season in the Twin Cities. Jax won’t become arbitration-eligible until 2026 or a free agent until his age-32 season.

As mentioned, the Braves converted Lopez into a starter, and he posted a 1.99 earned run average in 135 2/3 innings during the 2024 season. Lugo pitched to an even-3 ERA in 33 games during the 2024 season. Plus, the Rays have experience doing this with Zack Littell. The good news is that Jax has experience as a starter. The results are not great with a 5.93 ERA in 16 games started, but that was almost five years ago now.

It Takes Two to Tango

When asked about the potential conversion by the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin, Jax is willing to consider all the options. “I think it’s exciting,” Jax said. “…I haven’t done it in four years, so it’s going to have to be some real consideration on my part,” Jax said.

Another item worth mentioning is that Jax reportedly requested a trade from the Twins once he realized the magnitude of their summer trade deadline selling. Jax understandably grew perturbed at the quantity and quality of players the Twins were shipping away. He has a chance to author a new chapter in a Rays uniform. Having said that, the Rays may trade him once again because they are also a club that trades players when they get closer to free agency.

In any event, the Rays have options when it comes to Griffin Jax on their pitching staff, making him a starter, reliever, or a mix. Most Rays fans will gladly put their trust in the pitching coaches to figure out the best plan of action. The blueprint is visible, and the only question is whether or not the Rays will follow that or blaze a new trail once again.