Tampa Bay Rays: Acquire Roe from Braves, Interested in Neshek

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired experienced bullpen depth, though he is certainly not the impact left-handed reliever that they are looking for in a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired Chaz Roe a right-handed reliever earlier today from the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations, however Roe will head to Durham giving them the depth and another alternative should help be needed at the major league level.

Roe made three appearances with the Braves in April before heading to the disabled list with a right lat strain. Upon being activated off the DL, the Braves outrighted him off their 40-man roster.

The Colorado Rockies drafted Roe in first round (32 overall) of the 2005 Draft out of Lafayette High School (Lexington, Kentucky) and made his MLB debut in 2013 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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Since his time in Arizona, Roe has pitched for the New York Yankees (2014), Baltimore Orioles (2015-2016) and Atlanta (2016-2017). As well, he has been a member of the Mariners and Marlins organization, playing with their minor league affiliates.

Career wise at the major league level, Roe is 7-2 with a 4.16 ERA in 93 games. He has struck out 104 with 49 walks in 97.1 innings of work. In his three appearances for the Braves in April, Roe was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA, logging just two innings in which he allowed four runs on three hits with one strikeout and two walks.

As Roe definitely does not fit the impact lefty reliever that the Rays are seeking, they are however showing interest in Phillies reliever Pat Neshek. Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network via Twitter tweets that along with the Rays, the Brewers and Yankees are interested in Neshek’s services as well.

Jerry Crasnick via Twitter tweets that the Rays have inquired on all of the left-handed relievers, but will take a veteran righty.

While Neshek is not the lefty so desperately needed for the bullpen, he is a quality veteran option despite being 37-years-old, who is having a very good season with the Phillies. He is 2-2 with a 1.21 ERA and a 2.09 FIP in 40 games, logging 37.1 innings. Neshek has given up just five runs on 27 hits, with 40 strikeouts and only five walks.

According to Fangraphs, his strikeout rate of 29.0% is the highest of his career since his first season back in 2006 and his walk rate of 3.6% is the lowest of his career.

Next: Who's To Blame For The Rays Bullpen Woes

The risk that the Rays would take in acquiring Neshek would be big – he is a free agent at the end of the season and would only be rental property as he is unlikely to be affordable. It is a risk that I would take to help the bullpen, but only if the Phillies do not ask for the sky, the sun and the moon above.