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2025 Transactions: Rays Acquire Toole, Promote Wilcox

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Rays were somewhat busy on September 17. Tampa Bay promoted a once-highly-touted pitching prospect to the MLB roster, in former UGA pitcher Cole Wilcox. Additionally, the Rays completed the Jose Caballero trade with the Yankees. Tampa Bay received a 2024 MLB Draft pick, in ex-Wofford outfielder Marshall Toole.

Rays promote Wilcox

Pitcher Cole Wilcox was promoted on September 17, giving the 26-year-old a chance to make his MLB debut after five full seasons in the Minors. Wilcox was drafted in the third round by the Padres back in 2020.

Wilcox was a big arm back in college with the Georgia Bulldogs. He was traded months after he was signed, along with Luis Patino and Francisco Mejia, as the key pieces in the Blake Snell trade. However, Wilcox underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2021 and never got back to his elite prospect status since.

He’s since moved to the bullpen. Wilcox struck out 63 over 58.1 IP. The 26-year-old works with a hard sinker that sits in the 96-97 MPH range, topping out at 98 MPH. Additionally, Wilcox uses a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s sweeper.

Toole traded to Rays

Additionally, the Rays acquired Marshall Toole as the player to be named later in the Jose Caballero trade. Caballero was traded to the Yankees just before the deadline on July 31.

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired OF Marshall Toole as the player to be named to complete their July 31 trade with the New York Yankees.
— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) September 17, 2025

Toole, a 22-year-old outfielder, was drafted in the 15th round by the Yankees in the 2024 MLB Draft. The Georgia native was part of a strong Wofford offense that ranked among the best in Division I, thanks to five hitters with .330 or better averages.

The new Rays prospect did his part, as his 96 hits that season was tied for eight in Division I.

Toole didn’t make a ton of barreled contact (2.1% Barrel/PA) but fits a lot of what the Tampa organization loves. Toole doesn’t chase a ton (21.5% Chase%), stole 44 bases, and posted a .305/.406/.479 (.885 OPS) slash line with Low-A Tampa this season.

He’ll also play pepper with the field, as he went to the opposite field 27.1% of the time in 2025.

Braves claim Ragsdale

The Braves claimed Carson Ragsdale off waivers on September 17. It’s the second time that he was claimed this season, as Baltimore — the team that DFA’d him on the 15th — picked him up off waivers from the Giants back in August.

Ragsdale made his MLB debut on September 14 for the Orioles against Toronto. He gave up eight runs over three innings.

He was a fourth-round pick by the Phillies back in 2020.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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