The Tampa Bay Rays have signed veteran hurler and former Ray, RHP Jake Odorizzi, to a minor league deal.
Odorizzi, who will turn 34 in just a few weeks, is a Major League veteran starting pitcher with experience in 11 seasons. Originally selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round of the 2008 draft, Odorizzi would be part of two trades that involved the face of the franchise ace pitchers (Zach Greinke in 2010 and James Shields in 2012) before cementing himself as part of a big league rotation in 2013.
After enduring some growing pains over his first few seasons, Odorizzi strung together some solid campaigns. Odorizzi’s tenure with the Rays came to an unceremonious end after the hurler endured the worst season of his career in 2017. The Rays would promptly trade Odorizzi during Spring Training in 2018 to the Minnesota Twins. It was while with the Twins that Odorizzi would have the best two seasons of his career and finished the 2019 season as a Cy Young candidate.
Following his breakout season, Odorizzi would endure a litany of injuries in 2020, including one from a linedrive that struck him in the chest. In the abbreviated 60 game season, Odorizzi pitched in just six games and produced abysmal results.
Odorizzi joined the Houston Astros for the 2021-2022 campaigns and produced middling results before being traded to the Atlanta Braves at the 2022 deadline. The Braves would trade Odorizzi to the Texas Rangers during the offseason, but Odorizzi would never throw a pitch for Texas as he would undergo shoulder surgery that shelved him for the entire 2023 season.
According to Marc Topkin, Odorizzi states that he is fully healthy now and had been seeking a Major League deal. But, with the regular season fast approaching, Odorizzi felt returning to the Rays (even on a minor league deal) was his best option for an opportunity with the Rays sudden need for a starting pitcher.
The Tampa Bay Rays have suddenly found themselves in need of a starting pitcher due to Taj Bradley starting the season on the Injured List. Odorizzi joins a battle for a final roster spot that includes Naoyuki Uwasawa, Brendan McKay, Jacob Waguespack, as well as several others.
Opening Day is just two weeks away.
