The Tampa Bay Rays have made another addition, this time bolstering the bullpen with a surprising in-division trade for RHP Tyler Wells.
The cost here is on the expensive side in former Orioles prospect RHP Michael Forret, who ranked as a top-ten prospect for the Rays but was also a top candidate to be dealt, as he needed to be added to the 40-man roster this off-season.
In-division deals do tend to be more expensive, but the familiarity with Forret for the front office in Baltimore was surely a deciding factor.
Wells is a product of West Virginia that transferred to a California high school before enrolling at California State. He was drafted by the Twins in the 15th round in 2016, and was selected by the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft ahead of the 2021 season, pitching in relief.
Although he transitioned to starting in 2022, but went back to the bullpen in 2023 before requiring a UCL repair (internal brace augmentation) in 2024. Wells previously required Tommy John in 2019.
In the coming weeks, please prepare your ears to distinguish between Tyler Wells (this reliever), Tyler Wall (the Rays home clubhouse manager), Taylor Walls (the starting short stop), and Chris Adams-Wall (the Rays Radio pre- and post-game host).
