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Rays make big decision on ex-Astros All-Star

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints
By Michael Gianakos | Last updated Jun 25, 2024 8:42 PM ET

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Chris Devenski has been designated for assignment as the team brings back fellow reliever Edwin Uceta from the minors in a corresponding move.

Devenski, 33, appeared to be back to his All-Star form after a strong finish to the 2023 season with the Rays. Unfortunately, things fell apart for the big righty in 2024 as his ERA ballooned up to over 7.50 early in the season before he lingered on the injured list for a month.

He showed flashes upon his return from a right knee issue but a disastrous June seems to have been the final nail in the coffin as Tampa Bay showed Devenski the door.

Despite his recent struggles, Devenski’s career got off to a hot start. The reliever finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2016, posting a sparkling 182 ERA+ over 48 appearances for the Houston Astros. The following year, Devenski made the AL All Star team and then capped off his sophomore season as a World Series champion.

Since that auspicious start however, Devenski cooled off. His time in Houston was followed by a series of short stints with the Diamondbacks, Phillies and Angels. After Los Angeles released him in the middle of the 2023 season, Devenski caught on with the Rays. And he pitched well in Tampa Bay, putting up a career best 208 ERA+, albeit over just nine appearances.

His brief run as a reliever convinced the Rays to re-sign him for the 2024 season, offering a $1.1 million contract with a team option for 2025.

Unfortunately, Devenski could not carry over his previous season’s success, as 2024 has been ugly for the former All-Star. The lowlights include a 58 ERA+ to go along with a career worst home runs per nine innings, his second worst BB/9 mark and a -0.8 WAR over 19 appearances and 26.2 innings.

Rays made a big bullpen decision

May 6, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta (63) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at Tropicana Field. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Enter Edwin Uceta. The good news is that Uceta, 26, hasn’t given up a single run since the 2022 season. The bad news is that he’s only pitched seven innings in the bigs over the last two seasonsn. Before that, things were not going well for the right handed relief pitcher.

Uceta started off with the Dodgers in 2021 then bounced from the Diamondbacks to the Mets before landing in Tampa Bay this season. While he’s only given up one hit and hasn’t allowed a run, posting a career best 11.3 K/9, he’s only made two appearances in the majors so far this season, pitching a mere four innings.

The move to replace the older, floundering Devenski with the younger Uceta seems like an obvious win for the Rays. However, Uceta’s brief but strong performance in the big league belies some serious struggles. This season, he’s posted a 5.77 ERA in 22 appearances for Triple-A Durham.

The Rays sent Uceta back to the minors in May for a little more seasoning. It remains to be seen if he can continue his recent success in the majors now that he’s taken Devenski’s place in the pen, per Marc Topkin of Tampa Bay Times.

Either way, Devenski’s contract is guaranteed, so if he’s not claimed or traded following the DFA, the Rays are on the hook for the remainder of his $1 million salary for 2024 as well as a $100K buyout for 2025.

If he is released after the mandated seven day period, it’s likely that some team will need bullpen help and snap Devenski up for the $740,000 league minimum salary.

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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