Injuries continue to pile up. Infielder Jonathan Aranda fractured a finger on his right hand on Tuesday. Surgery to repair his finger was conducted on Thursday and Aranda will be left off the Opening Day roster. His projected absence is four to six weeks. This bad luck is twofold. The Rays are already dealing with multiple injuries and Aranda was ready to make his MLB debut on Opening Day. Aranda dominated AAA-level ball. He hit 43 dingers and collected a massive 166 RBIs in two seasons. In addition, Aranda had an exceptional spring with an impressive slash line of .421/.571/.992 while batting .371. The lefty batting super infielder has checked every box to make the team. Roster shuffling continues.
According to MLB.com, the Rays do not intend to promote top prospect Junior Caminero to fill in the Aranda void. Infielders Osleivis Basabe and Austin Shenton are still on the 40-man roster. Shenton seems to be the logical candidate and he adds a left-handed bat to the lineup. Last season, Shenton split time in AA and AAA ball. In 134 games he hit 29 home runs and complied 99 RBIs. Other options include waiver wire pickups.
The move to pick up Richie Palacios is looking monumental right now. Early in the spring, Palacios could not find a spot in the crowded infield. Fast forward a few weeks and he is an essential bench piece that can fill in at second base or any of the three outfield positions. Plus, his left-handed bat can help balance out the lineup.
Shortstop/Outfielder Greg Jones is no longer an option. Jones was traded to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Switch hitting Jones was traded for left-handed pitcher Joe Rock. Both players have no experience in the MLB. Jones was the Rays’ first-round pick in the 2019 Draft. He brings power, speed, and defense to Colorado. He is MLB ready and batted .357 with an OPS of 1.081 during the spring. Second-round pick in 2021 Rock was the Rockies’ number 15 prospect (now number 19 for Rays). He has seen time in AA and made one rough start in AAA. Rock features an above-average fastball and slider and change-up as secondary pitches. He pitched two innings this spring and struck out one.
So far, it looks like a win-win situation for both teams. The Rays have an abundance of infielders in the minors and the Rockies are looking for depth. Jones fits the role as back up shortstop and centerfielder for the Rockies. As for the Rays, as mentioned earlier this week, the pitching staff is an area which requires attention. Newcomer Joe Rock, especially being lefty, can stabilize the pitching staff. In the minors, Rock was used as a starter. His role on the Rays is unknown currently.
Also, hard-throwing Manuel Rodriguez was optioned to AAA Durham. Kevin Cash had a difficult decision to make here. Cash recognized Rodriguez’s remarkable spring by saying, “He probably had about as good of a spring as you can ask of him.” In nine innings, Rodriguez struck out 14 batters. He posted an ERA of 1.00 and a WHIP of 1.11. His achievements should not be overlooked and ought to be the first relief pitcher called upon when the situation arises.
