The Rays said right‑hander Manuel Rodríguez is back from the 15‑day injured list, and Jake Woodford was designated for assignment. Can the club afford another roster shuffle?
Tampa Bay is clearly shaping pitcher workloads ahead of a postseason run. Having locked the AL lead, the remaining games mean little. Days earlier they summoned Mason Englert to start, pushing Ian Seymour back. Englert was sent down the next day, opening a spot for Woodford. Seymour took the mound yesterday but was pulled after just 58 pitches over five innings.
Woodford entered after Seymour, likely to eat a few frames, but the plan unraveled. He faced eight hitters, recorded only four outs and surrendered three earned runs. Brody Hopkins and Steven Matz closed the game.
The club swiftly removed Woodford to clear a roster slot for Rodríguez’s return. He’ll be placed on waivers now that the trade deadline has passed. I think this signals Tampa Bay values immediate depth above lingering contracts. If he clears, he can elect free agency after a prior outright.
Woodford could accept an outright assignment hoping for a playoff call‑up, but his chances are slim. He’s long been a stop‑gap innings eater, hopping among seven clubs since early 2023 and posting a 7.00 ERA over 146 2/3 innings. Will he find a new home before the postseason?