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Aug. 29: RHP Chris Devenski signed to a Major League contract, placed on the bereavement list
The Angels designated Devenski for assignment on Friday and released him on Tuesday, and the Rays quickly picked him up. Devenski was immediately placed on the bereavement list, with the expectation that he will eventually join the team in Cleveland for the series that begins Friday.

Devenski put together a 5.08 ERA in 33 2/3 innings over 29 appearances for the Angels this season despite striking out 33 and walking only nine, with a WHIP of 1.19. The 32-year-old right-hander, a 25th-round Draft pick in 2011, enjoyed two strong seasons with the Astros in 2016-17, posting a 2.38 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 189 innings and making the American League All-Star team in ’17. He hasn’t been as effective since, logging a 5.38 ERA in 175 2/3 innings over 165 outings for the Astros, D-backs, Phillies and Angels over the past six years.

Devenski throws five pitches: a fastball that has averaged 94.2 mph this year, a changeup that has been his primary offering since 2020, a slider, a sweeper and a curveball.

Aug. 29: INF Yandy Díaz (left forearm) returns to lineup
After not playing Saturday or Sunday against the Yankees while undergoing treatment on his bruised left forearm, Díaz returned to his spot atop the order in the Rays' series opener against the Marlins on Tuesday night in Miami. The All-Star first baseman said through interpreter Manny Navarro that his arm still bothered him a bit, but he noted it felt "a lot better" after three days of rest.

Batting in the eighth inning Friday night, Díaz took a 98.1 mph sinker from Yankees right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga off his left forearm. He stared angrily toward the mound, acknowledging afterward that it was "a little painful," but stayed in the game. X-rays were negative on Friday night, and a CT scan on Saturday came back clean as well.

Díaz said he didn't want to think the plunking was intentional, although he admitted it probably would have been worse if not for the sweatband that absorbed some of the impact. Having been hit by a pitch himself, Díaz was visibly agitated during the benches-clearing incident after Randy Arozarena was plunked in Sunday's series finale.

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INJURY UPDATES

10-day and 15-day IL

INF Taylor Walls (left oblique strain)
Expected return: Sept. 1
Walls took part in regular pregame workouts during the Rays' most recent homestand and capped it by taking live batting practice against rehabbing reliever Kevin Kelly on Aug. 27. After a day off for treatment, Walls began a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Aug. 29. He is expected to play two or three games before rejoining the Rays in Cleveland when rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1.

Walls did not play on July 21, a day after being pinch-hit for late in the Rays’ loss to the Orioles. He was placed on the injured list the following day, retroactive to July 21. Walls missed time in Spring Training due to a strained right oblique, but he could point to one specific incident when his oblique "grabbed" then. This time, Walls said, the tightness intensified over time. (Last updated: Aug. 29)

RHP Kevin Kelly (left ankle sprain)
Expected return: Sept. 1
Kelly aggravated his ankle injury while covering first base in the Rays' loss to the Giants on Aug. 15, then he woke up to swelling the next day. He had rolled his ankle a couple of days prior, though he said he did not feel any discomfort while pitching. Kelly took an encouraging step toward his return when he threw live batting practice on Aug. 22. Kelly said he felt good and reported no issues after throwing around 30 pitches in live batting practice on Aug. 27. Kelly traveled with the Rays to Miami, keeping him in line to rejoin Tampa Bay's bullpen on Sept. 1 in Cleveland. (Last updated: Aug. 29)

OF Manuel Margot (right elbow loose bodies)
Expected return: Mid-September
Margot underwent surgery to remove the loose bodies in his elbow on Aug. 16, one day after he was placed on the 10-day IL, and said the procedure went well. The Rays' outfielder had been dealing with discomfort in his elbow for about a month that didn't subside after an injection. He said on Aug. 23 that the injury bothered him while throwing and hitting, but he already felt better a week after the procedure. Margot will miss an estimated three to four weeks, although he's hoping to return sooner than that. (Last updated: Aug. 23)

60-day IL

LHP Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely 2025
McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21, his second time having the procedure. It was a huge blow to the Rays, as the ace left-hander is expected to miss the entire 2024 season. Manager Kevin Cash acknowledged beforehand it would be a "tough loss," but after McClanahan was evaluated by Dr. Keith Meister on Aug. 15, the club believes the surgery will give him his best chance at coming back strong. (Last updated: Aug. 22)

RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
Baz, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28 and will miss all of this season, has enjoyed a smooth rehabilitation process so far. He began playing catch near the end of March and was throwing on flat ground from 60 feet as of April 13, when he was transferred to the 60-day IL.

Baz has continued his throwing program, with an eye on getting into instructional league game action before enjoying as normal an offseason as possible. The young starter accompanied the Rays to his hometown of Houston to continue his rehab work during the club's three-game series against the Astros. (Last updated: July 28)

RHP Drew Rasmussen (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Midseason 2024
Rasmussen went on the IL a day after tossing seven scoreless innings on May 11 in the Rays' 8-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Manager Kevin Cash announced on July 8 that Rasmussen was slated to undergo a hybrid internal brace procedure, which will sideline him the rest of this year and until the middle of the 2024 campaign. He had the procedure as scheduled on July 24. (Last updated: July 25)

LHP Garrett Cleavinger (right knee sprain)
Expected return: 2024
Cleavinger, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 12, was injured in the 10th inning of the Rays’ 8-7 win over the Yankees on May 7 after tumbling to the ground during a rundown along the third-base line. Cleavinger landed awkwardly and quickly gestured toward his knee in obvious pain.

Tampa Bay’s athletic training staff brought out a wheelchair to take him off the field, but the lefty declined the offer and attempted to throw a warmup pitch before walking into the dugout. He was diagnosed with a right ACL injury and underwent season-ending surgery on May 17 to repair his ACL and meniscus.

Cleavinger is expected to be ready for Spring Training next year. (Last updated: June 23)

LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2024
When Springs exited his start on April 13 at Tropicana Field, the Rays initially announced his injury as ulnar neuritis in his left arm -- a nerve issue he described as feeling like “kind of a funny bone, kind of a shock, zinger kind of thing down the forearm” and hand.

Springs was evaluated by Rays team physician Dr. Koco Eaton, then received a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 22. Springs underwent successful Tommy John surgery on April 24, which will keep him out until next season. (Last updated: April 24)

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