Rays acquire 2 Rule 5 Draft pitchers on final day of Winter Meetings

The last day of the 2024 Winter Meetings included the annual Rule 5 Draft. The Rays decided to take full advantage this offseason, as they wound up acquiring two pitchers, and both of them must remain on the active roster.

Rays select LHP Nathan Lavender with the 8th pick in the Rule 5 Draft

Left-handed pitcher, Nathan Lavender was a starter in college as a member of the University of Illinois. After the Mets drafted him in the 14th round of the 2021 draft, they immediately converted him into a long reliever. The 24-year old quickly ascended to Triple-A Syracuse, as he recorded a 2.41 ERA over 115 minor league innings.

Unfortunately, Lavender was placed on the injured list for most of the 2024 campaign with ligament damage in his pitching elbow. Rule 5 Draft regulations allow for the Rays to hold onto the hurler for a year of recovery as they look forward to a 2026 Tampa Bay debut.

However, the Rays front office has some pleasant things to say about the former Met. According to Rays assistant general manager, Kevin Ibach, the organization has shown interest in him since he arrived on the scene. Ibach stated, "{He has} multiple pitches to get guys out, {we} like the fastball, like the deception that he provides from the left-hand side." His tools are certainly present, so hopefully the coaching staff can get the most out of his potential.

Phillies trade Rule 5 Draft pick, Mike Vasil to Rays for cash considerations

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Mets minor league starting pitcher, Mike Vasil with the 14th pick in the this year's Rule 5 Draft. After their selection, they instantly traded the right-hander to the Rays for cash considerations. Therefore, the Rays were able to acquire two MLB-ready pitchers from this compelling draft.

Any player that is added through the Rule 5 draft must be assigned to the club's active roster. Due to Lavender's injury, he is exempt in this circumstance, but Vasil could be a solid depth piece in the Rays pitching staff.

The University of Virginia product struggled on the mound in 2024, but he was a solid contributor in his age-23 season. Vasil finished 2023 with an impressive 138 strikeouts in 124 innings of work, as he proved his ability to manufacture outs over a long span.

The hard-throwing right-hander possesses a mid-to-upper 90's fastball and a few devastating off-speed pitches. Among them, Vasil wields a slider that sits in the mid-80s and gives right-handed hitters tons of trouble. Also, his curveball is a valuable weapon as the pitch drops off the table, proving to be effective for batters from both sides of the plate.

All in all, the closing day was a success as the Rays were able to add talented pitching depth to their roster. And as Rays assistant GM, Kevin Ibach explains, "You can never have too much pitching."