Rays deal from starting pitcher depth, ship Jeffrey Springs to A's

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Dec 14, 2024

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Rays addressed their starting pitcher surplus Saturday, completing a trade to send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics in a deal that includes five players and a competitive balance-round draft pick.

The Rays will get right-hander Joe Boyle, first baseman Will Simpson, minor league right-hander Jacob Watters and a pick, likely in the high-30s, in the upcoming draft. In addition to Springs, the Rays are sending another lefty pitcher, Jacob Lopez, to the A’s.

Springs, 32, returned from Tommy John surgery in July. He made seven starts before being shut down in September due to fatigue but got a good checkup on his elbow. He is owed $21 million over the next two seasons, plus has a $15 million option or $750,000 buyout for 2027.

With Springs traded, the Rays have six proven big league starters, plus Boyle, and some minor-league depth below them. The Rays still could make another trade from the group that includes Shane Baz, Taj Bradley, Zack Littell, Shane McClanahan, Ryan Pepiot and Drew Rasmussen, who is going back to starting after returning from a third elbow surgery in August as a reliever.

Springs made an impressive 2022 transition from reliever to starter, and was rewarded with a four-year, $31 million extension. But he made only three starts in 2023 before hurting his elbow. His overall record as a starter is 12-7, 2.51 in 37 games.

Lopez, 26, made eight appearances for the Rays over the last two seasons, spending most of his time at Triple-A Durham. With the promotion of Triple-A lefties Joe Rock and Ian Seymour to the 40-man roster last month, Lopez was deemed expendable.

Boyle, 25, had a 3-6 record and 6.42 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) for the A’s last season. He threw six shutout innings against the Rays on Aug. 19, allowing only two hits. Simpson, a 2023 15th-round pick, hit 18 homers last season, most of which he spent at High A Lansing.

Watters, a 2022 fourth-round pick, also spent most of last season at Lansing. He went a combined 7-3, 5.51 in 18 minor league games, including 10 starts.