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5 Tampa Bay Rays relievers who can help in 2019

By Austin Reimann
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 10: The bullpen bench of the Tampa Bay Rays is empty as the game enters the 14th inning against the Boston Red Sox June 10, 2013 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Boston won 10 - 8. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 10: The bullpen bench of the Tampa Bay Rays is empty as the game enters the 14th inning against the Boston Red Sox June 10, 2013 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Boston won 10 - 8. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 30: Pitcher Oliver Drake #32 of the Minnesota Twins throws out Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians at first during the seventh inning at Progressive Field on August 30, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 30: Pitcher Oliver Drake #32 of the Minnesota Twins throws out Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians at first during the seventh inning at Progressive Field on August 30, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Oliver Drake, RHP, 31 (age 32 season)

To say that Oliver Drake is well-traveled would be an understatement. The righty played for 5 teams in 2018. Just this offseason, he has been acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays twice. While appearing in a total of 33 games spread across appearances with the Twins (19), Brewers (11), Angels (8), Indians (4), and Blue Jays (2), the native of Massachusetts threw 47.2 innings.

5.29 ERA // 3.24 FIP // 83 ERA+ // 51K/17BB // 9.63 K/9

The more one digs into Drake’s numbers, the more he begins to like him. He is better than the  5.29 ERA leads you to believe. But, if he makes the opening day roster, it will be as a righty specialist. In 28.1 innings versus right-handed hitters, Drake held opposing hitters to a .221 average while striking out 35.

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The Rays obviously like what they see in Drake as they have added him to their organization two times in a matter of months. He will most likely be in the mix come spring training. Whether or not he can stick with one organization will be interesting to watch. He could settle into a big role in Tampa if he repeats what he did in Minnesota.

There, he struck out 22 batters in 20.1 innings and had an ERA+ of 200. His 2.21 ERA is much more appealing than the 5.29 ERA that he ended the season with. In time we will see if he can find what he had while in a Twins uniform.

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