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May 18: LHP Richard Lovelady acquired from Cubs for LHP Jeff Belge; RHP Jacob Waguespack transferred to 60-day IL
The Rays added a second lefty arm to their bullpen in the trade for Lovelady, a five-year Major Leaguer who's seen time with the Royals, A's and Cubs. The 28-year-old Lovelady owns a 7.94 ERA in 5 2/3 innings with Chicago this year, but he's held left-handed hitters to a .235 average and a .671 OPS for his career. Lovelady was still in the process of joining his new club on Saturday, so he was unavailable for the second game of Tampa Bay's series in Toronto.

Garrett Cleavinger is currently the only southpaw in the 'pen, as Colin Poche continues his recovery from a mid-back issue that sent him to the injured list on April 26 (retroactive to April 24). Poche is doing some activities, but manager Kevin Cash anticipates that it will take a bit longer to build him up given how long he's been inactive for.

The Rays sent Belge -- a 26-year-old Minor League reliever -- to Chicago in the trade for Lovelady. Belge was off to a good start with Double-A Montgomery this year, save for a five-run outing that caused his ERA to balloon to 4.20.

In order to make room for Lovelady on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay moved Waguespack to the 60-day IL as he deals with right rotator cuff inflammation that's kept him sidelined since May 2. Waguespack was recalled from Triple-A Durham prior to landing on the IL on May 6, allowing the Rays to move him to the 60-day IL and free up a roster spot.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Chris Devenski (right knee tendinitis)
Expected return: Likely late May
Devenski made his first rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on May 17, pitching one scoreless inning with one hit allowed. Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays were still figuring out next steps, but another rehab outing is likely considering Devenski has been a length guy out of the Rays' bullpen and he'd need to continue building up for a return to that role.

The 33-year-old Devenski was placed on the injured list on April 29, retroactive to April 26, after aggravating a lingering knee injury while playing catch in Chicago during the Rays' series against the White Sox. The right-hander said he was optimistic he won't miss much time. An MRI on April 30 revealed what Cash called "pretty strong patellar tendinitis." (Last updated: May 18)

LHP Colin Poche (mid-back tightness)
Expected return: TBD
Poche has resumed some activities, but there's still "uncertainty" around how long it will take to get him back to the Rays' bullpen, according to manager Kevin Cash. The left-handed Poche went on the injured list on April 26, retroactive to April 24, due to a mid-back issue that prevented him from feeling fully comfortable on the mound. He received an injection in his back, which came before a few days of rest, then needed a second cortisone-type shot in early May. (Last updated: May 18)

RHP Ryan Pepiot (lower left leg contusion)
Expected return: Late May
Pepiot, who was placed on the 15-day injured list after being struck by a line drive against the Mets on May 5, simulated three innings in a bullpen session at Rogers Centre ahead of the series opener against the Blue Jays on May 17. That comes after successful bullpen sessions on May 12 and May 14.

"We’re finally getting off the slope, just trying to feel it out because it’s different than flat ground," Pepiot said. "It was more to see how the ball was coming out and how I was landing on the front side of my leg."

Depending on how Pepiot feels during the weekend in Toronto, he may slide back into the rotation for the Rays' home series against the Red Sox. Pepiot is eligible to return on May 21 -- the second game of the set with Boston. (Last updated: May 17)

2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Lowe -- who was scheduled to continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on May 18 -- could be activated during the Rays' next homestand starting on May 20.

The 29-year-old Lowe went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer (tracked by Statcast at a projected 423 feet, with an exit velocity of 105 mph) while playing the whole game at second base on May 12. But Lowe, who was pulled from his rehab appearance on May 10 as a precautionary move, reported that he was "still feeling a little bit" of discomfort, manager Kevin Cash said. Lowe went home to Nashville, Tenn., on May 13 and was seen on May 14 by Dr. Ryan Snowden, a spine surgeon who has worked with Lowe previously.

Cash said the visit brought "good news," as Lowe's imaging showed he is healing, so the Rays feel comfortable about resuming his rehab assignment.

Lowe was pulled early from the Rays’ April 3 game against the Rangers due to left side tightness and underwent a precautionary MRI. That scan revealed no issues, and Lowe returned to the field for all three of Tampa Bay’s games at Coors Field. He didn’t start April 8-9 against the Angels, which was expected against a pair of left-handed pitchers. Lowe was preparing for a possible pinch-hit appearance on April 9, but instead stayed on the bench after something flared up in his right oblique. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain, and he was placed on the injured list on April 12, retroactive to April 9. (Last updated: May 17)

RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly May
Baz began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on May 4. He allowed three runs on three hits and one walk with no strikeouts over three innings against Gwinnett. Twenty-two of Baz's 39 pitches went for strikes. He threw 25 four-seam fastballs and topped out at 97.1 mph. He struggled through a brief second start on May 10, recording only five outs while allowing three runs on five walks and one hit.

Baz missed the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28, 2022. But the young right-hander will be limited this season, as he has never carried a significant workload and did not pitch at all last season. He dealt with two minor oblique setbacks during his comeback, with the first coming when he picked up a weight in the weight room in early March. He essentially began his buildup after Spring Training ended. He was placed on the 15-day IL on March 25. (Last updated: May 10)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Jacob Waguespack (right rotator cuff inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Waguespack was moved to the 60-day IL on May 18. He sustained a right shoulder injury during his last outing for Triple-A Durham that wasn't expected to require a significant stint on the shelf, but the Rays gained some flexibility by recalling Waguespack and placing him on the 15-day IL on May 6. Had the reliever been placed on the Minor League IL, that stint would not have counted toward the time he's required to stay inactive after the move to the 60-day IL. So not only did the Rays open a roster spot for left-hander Richard Lovelady -- acquired in a trade on May 18 -- but they also guaranteed Waguespack will be eligible to return after serving the minimum 60 days, on July 5. (Last updated: May 18)

LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely late June
Springs threw a two-inning live BP session on May 15 and will next pitch in a Rookie-level Florida Complex League game on May 20, two big steps in his return from elbow surgery. He underwent successful Tommy John surgery on April 24, 2023, and was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15. Before the season, president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Springs could be in line to rejoin the Rays' rotation by July or August. But with his rehab assignment and Spring Training-type progression set to begin before the end of May, it now seems possible the left-hander could be back in the big leagues by late June. (Last updated: May 15)

SS Taylor Walls (right hip surgery)
Expected return: TBD
Walls was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 20. The slick-fielding infielder has begun a Spring Training-type progression at the Rays' complex in Port Charlotte, Fla., which will take about two weeks before he starts getting into games.

Manager Kevin Cash said the team received a "very good report" from Walls' visit with Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, Tenn., on April 1. Given the amount of time Walls has missed, it seems likely he will have to essentially recreate a progression similar to Spring Training whenever he returns to game action.

Walls, whose injured list stint began March 25, underwent surgery on Oct. 27 to repair a labral tear and relieve discomfort from an impingement in his right hip. He said on Feb. 13 he had been dealing with a “noticeable hip impingement” for more than a year, and it reached the point in the playoffs where he could barely swing the bat. (Last updated: May 14)

LHP Brendan McKay (left elbow; Minor League injured list)
Expected return: Possibly late 2024
McKay, who began the season with Double-A Montgomery, reported left elbow discomfort on May 3 after being promoted to Triple-A Durham and was placed on the Minor League 60-day IL on May 11. He told the club the issue began after his April 30 outing with Montgomery. A former top prospect who has been set back by a series of arm injuries since debuting for the Rays in 2019, McKay was diagnosed with a flexor/pronator strain and an accompanying UCL sprain after having an MRI reviewed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Doctors recommended five to six weeks of rehab, with no throwing, before he builds back up to full activity. The Rays' expectation is that McKay will be back to full baseball activity in three months. (Last updated: May 14)

RHP Drew Rasmussen (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Late 2024
Rasmussen went on the IL a day after tossing seven scoreless innings on May 11, 2023, in the Rays' 8-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Manager Kevin Cash announced on July 8 that Rasmussen was slated to undergo a season-ending hybrid internal brace procedure, which he underwent on July 24. Rasmussen, who previously had two Tommy John surgeries, is doing well in his rehab and is scheduled to throw in an extended spring game around May 20. President of baseball operations Erik Neander said prior to the season that Rasmussen could return to the big league staff in the final months of the year. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 20. (Last updated: May 3)

LHP Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely 2025
McClanahan has ramped up to throwing from 90 feet. Manager Kevin Cash said on May 3 that McClanahan is "progressing well," although he is still in the early stages of his rehab. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21, his second time having the procedure. He is expected to miss the entire season, although the two-year contract he signed with the Rays in January to avoid arbitration included escalators for his 2025 to account for the possibility of a late-season return in ’24, if his rehab allows for it. He was officially placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 14, before the Rays' first Spring Training workout. (Last updated: May 3)

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