The Rays announced Thursday that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Tyler Zuber. He’s now on their 40-man roster but won’t join the big league staff, as Tampa Bay immediately optioned Zuber to Triple-A Durham. The Rays’ 40-man roster now stands at 38 players.
Tampa Bay signed Zuber out of the Atlantic League back in mid-May. He’d been pitching well for the Long Island Ducks and has continued to do so with the Bulls in Durham, working to a sparkling 2.49 ERA with a huge 33.3% strikeout rate against a 6.9% walk rate.
The 30-year-old Zuber pitched with the Royals in 2020-21, showing an intriguing ability to miss bats but also a glaring problem with his command. His rookie year in 2020 included 22 innings with a 4.09 ERA and huge 30.3% strikeout rate … but also a sky-high 20.2% walk rate. Zuber has pitched 49 1/3 innings in the majors overall and recorded a 5.29 ERA, 24.8% strikeout rate and 16.7% walk rate.
Despite his lack of command in the majors, Zuber didn’t have substantial trouble with free passes prior to his debut. He’s battled shoulder troubles in 2021 and 2022, however, missing the entire ’22 season as a result. It’s not clear how much that ailing shoulder impacted him during 2020-21, but Zuber’s K-BB profile in Durham this season has been excellent and he’ll now give the Rays yet another interesting reclamation project who could be called upon to help the big league bullpen sooner than later.
The Rays have a deep collection of bullpen arms, with out-of-options righty Shawn Armstrong the only one of the current group that’s experienced any real struggles in 2024. However, Tampa Bay already traded Phil Maton to the Mets and has been rumored to be open to moving some other veteran arms even as they try to remain in contention. Pete Fairbanks, Jason Adam, Colin Poche, Kevin Kelly and Garrett Cleavinger are among the possibilities to change hands in the next 12 days. Moving anyone from that group could clear a spot for Zuber or another in-house arm to get a look. In particular, dealing any of Fairbanks, Adam or Poche would trim some money from the Rays’ franchise-record payroll and be replaced by a more affordable option — a concept similar to the prior trades of Maton and Aaron Civale.
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