Tampa Bay Rays: Scenarios for Returns of Drew Smyly, Alex Colome

Mar 15, 2014; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Scott Diamond (58) delivers a pitch during a game against the New York Mets at Tradition Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

6) Start Andriese and a Triple-A Call-Up

Finally, let’s go in a completely different direction. If the Rays really want Smyly to get one more rehab start and won’t call up Colome until April 26th at the earliest, then they have the ability to call up not just an extra reliever, but even a Triple-A starter. Since James Loney is set to return on April 22nd or soon after, Allan Dykstra could be designated for assignment to make room for someone else, who would presumably pitch once before getting DFA’d himself.

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Andriese could start on the 24th, and then the Rays could call up Scott Diamond, Everett Teaford or even Dylan Floro. Floro is easily the most interesting of that group and he does need to be added to the 40-man roster prior to this year’s Rule 5 Draft anyway, but the Rays won’t burn a 40-man roster spot on him for just one game. For the other two, meanwhile, their unimpressive big league track records don’t make them great candidates to start. It would be more likely for them to be up in case the Rays get a big lead and want length later in the game.

Next: Conclusion