Matt Duffy just can’t seem to stay healthy. Duffy acquired from the Giants in the Matt Moore trade has only had one healthy season with the Rays and that was 2017.
Duffy missed the 2018 recuperating from Achilles surgery and was expected to be the starting third basemen in 2019.
Duffy developed a nagging hamstring issue during Spring training and played just a handful of games before he was shut down for the remainder of spring training.
Since then Duffy has been rehabbing and trying to work his way back, but after playing 4-5 games has had setback after setback and is then not allowed any baseball activity.
Duffy had been progressing nicely in his rehab and had played five games at Port Charlotte before going to Durham. This was to be his last stop before rejoining the Rays on what has been a very lengthy rehab stint.
Duffy was pulled from a game in Durham due to re-aggravating the hamstring injury and has been shot down till further notice.
The Rays had Duffy playing shortstop and some in the outfield. The thought was to keep Yandy Diaz and his bat in the lineup playing third and with Adames struggling at short, Duffy could fill in for Adames and then spell Pham and Lowe in left field.
The Rays starting third basemen have Yandy Diaz Is currently on the 10 day DL and is due to come off the DL on May 30th.
Daniel Robertson has been at third since Diaz has been on the DL and Christian Arroyo has also played four games at third earlier in the season.
If Duffy cannot stay healthy, and there is no indication that he will, the Rays need to move on from Duffy and go with the platoon of Diaz and Robertson. Also Christian Arroyo could be a third option, and Arroyo gives them flexibility at other infield positions as he can fill at second and short.
Rays still have interest in Keuchel and Kimbrel
The Rays are still in the hunt for starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel and relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. Nothing will happen before June 3rd as that is the date that teams can sign free agents and not give up a draft pick as compensation.
The Yankees and the Dodgers will also be in the hunt for the services of Keuchel and Kimbrel, so the Rays may loose out if they get caught up in a bidding war.
The Rays did sign Charlie Morton for $30 million dollars for two years so its entirely possible the Rays could be all in on one or both of these pitchers.
My guess would be Craig Kimbrel would be the guy that the Rays would covet due to the inconsistency in the bullpen. Jose Alvarado has had a couple of meltdowns this season and he cost the Rays a game in Cleveland this week.
KImbrel was very good in the regular season with Boston last year going 5-1 with a 2.42 ERA and 42 saves, but did have his moments in the post season where he wasn’t as sharp as he had been in the regular season as he allowed two runs in four innings with a 4.15 ERA.
Tyler Glasnow moved to 60 day DL
The Rays have moved Tyler Glasnow from the 10 day to the sixty day DL. Glasnow who strained his right forearm will not be ready to pitch until July 12th at the earliest.
To take Glasnow’s spot on the roster, the Rays called up relief pitcher Oliver Drake from Durham. Drake was 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA with six saves at Durham.
