Rays have a timeline to return their trump card. Baseball Operations President Erik Neander told MLB Network Broadcast this week on Siriusxm Shane McClanahan A bullpen meeting is scheduled for Friday. Neander added that if things go as planned, McClanahan can start a minor league rehabilitation mission before the end of the month and return to the major league club in “late July or early August, finger crossing.”
McClanahan has never played in the regular season since 2023. He has been in a row for the second All-Star season, earning 3.29 ERA in 115 innings. That was when he came out of the mound when his body was tight before early August. Two weeks later, McClanahan went to Tommy John for surgery. The injury later in the season meant he was almost immediately excluded from the entire ’24 campaign.
Tampa Bay hopes to regain McClanahan early this year. He looked sharp in three games in spring training. This was stopped when he suffered nerve damage in his triceps midway through the camp. His schedule has been uncertain so far. The rays will hope to go smoothly from here, which will allow McClanahan to return in the next few months.
The target is consistent with the trade deadline of July 31. The rays are almost certainly not moving McClanahan, but his return can make the front desk more comfortable handling another starter. The coming free agent Zack Littell is the most obvious trade candidate, but Rays are usually reluctant to listen to anyone’s offer. They’ll probably receive each Ryan Pepiot,,,,, Drew Rasmussen,,,,, Taj Mahal Bradley and Shane Baz The same is true.
In other ray damage news, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times wrote Jonny Deluca Will be closed for three weeks in all baseball activities. DeLuca has been out due to shoulder pressure since early April. He suffered a setback last week and obviously missed a lot of time.
