3 free agents the Rays could acquire to sustain their bullpen

Despite the success of our bullpen last season, all baseball fans know that picking up valuable arms in free agency is always welcomed due to the possibility of down years and injuries. We chose 3 reliable relievers that we believe could step into the Rays' talented pen and give us significant playing time.

1. Will Smith

Will Smith, not to be confused with the Dodger's catcher or even the Hollywood star, has been in the Majors since the 2012 season. He has bounced around from team to team as he's seen time with the Royals, Brewers, Giants, Braves, Astros, and Rangers.

A few key things stick out to us about this veteran reliever that could attract Neander and the Rays' front office. The first one is that he is a journeyman. The Rays tend to revel in the players with experience and service time due to their knowledge around the league. The second key component to Smith's resume is his experience. The 35-year old southpaw would bring a solid dynamic to the young bullpen in Tampa.

Above all, Smith has a 3.85 ERA and 114 saves in his lengthy career. His stats have trended down in recent years, but we are hopeful that, with the guidance of Kyle Snyder, Will Smith could thrive in a Rays' uniform.

2. Matt Moore

Across the MLB, there is a perpetual need for left-handed relievers and this fact certainly applies to the Rays as well. Matt Moore could be a secure option to support the bullpen.

Although, he is recovering from an elbow injury, the Florida native has boasted a resurgence since his 2022 campaign with the Texas Rangers. He sported a 1.95 ERA over 74 innings that season which led to the league taking notice of his value as a relief pitcher. He has played for a few different teams since 2022 and maintained consistency amidst all of the changes.

Lastly, you may have remembered when Moore was an electric starting pitcher in a Rays' jersey. We are aware that the Rays have a knack for resigning former players that they can trust, therefore this left hander would be embraced in the Rays' clubhouse. Previously, Moore showed a lot of success with the Tampa Bay club as he was named an All Star in 2013, recording a 17-4 record with a 3.29 ERA.

3. Tommy Kahnle

Kahnle is the only player on this list who is still currently pitching in the 2024 postseason as the Yankees look to ascend to the World Series for the first time since 2009, when they defeated the Phillies in 6 games. The 35-year old right hander is playing in his 10th season, 6 of which being with the squad in pinstripes.

He is currently having the most productive season of his career as he has produced a 2.11 ERA over 42.2 innings. His punch-out numbers are down a bit since 2023, but the results are still there. The Rays could absolutely benefit from his experience, especially in the daunting AL East, and his ability to generate outs across numerous innings.