Alex

Faedo

No surprises here. Faedo is the most intriguing name of the bunch and should attract some interest on the open market as a middle reliever this offseason. The trio went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment earlier this week.

You’d be excused for not knowing any of these players were even on Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster; the five pitchers combined to throw 6 1/3 innings for the Rays last season and Fairchild was hurt one day after being acquired from the Braves in July. Faedo, who was acquired from the Tigers in February, ended up missing the entire season with shoulder problems after a rehab assignment in July went badly.

The 29-year-old right-hander pitched two innings in his first outing on Friday, allowing a pair of hits while striking out two. Faedo has been sidelined since the end of spring training due to inflammation in his right shoulder. He’s probably going to require a lengthy rehab assignment before he’s ready to help out the Rays at the major league level.

Nothing has changed in the prognosis for the 29-year-old right-hander who is currently working his way back from right shoulder inflammation, this was merely done as a procedural move to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster for Chandler Simpson’s arrival on Friday.

Faedo gave up six runs and had a 1/5 K/BB in 3 2/3 innings this spring before being shut down. He’ll probably get a look once healthy, but it’s possible he’ll be DFA’d if the Rays determine their pen is fine without him.

Faedo was acquired from Detroit in February, but the 25-year-old will need to wait until at least the middle of April to make his debut with the Rays. Once healthy, he’ll be a multi-inning option for the Tampa Bay bullpen.

The deal is now official. Faedo grew up in the Tampa Bay area and gets to head home after losing his spot last week on Detroit’s overcrowded 40-man roster. The 29-year-old former top pitching prospect represents a worthwhile gamble for the Rays as a low-leverage relief specialist after he posted a serviceable 3.61 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 55/28 K/BB ratio across 57 1/3 innings (37 appearances, six starts) last year for the Tigers.

This is yet another buy-low move by the Rays to acquire Faedo, who was designated by assignment by the Tigers last week. Faedo was the 18th pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, and Baseball America ranked him as the 50th overall prospect heading into the 2018 season. In his MLB career, Faedo has pitched to a 4.51 ERA in 175 2/3 innings with a 20.9 percent strikeout rate. The Tigers moved Faedo to a full-time relief role last season; however, he possesses an elite slider that could be a tremendous pitch for him if the Rays can figure out the rest of his arsenal. It’s unlikely that change will happen in 2025, but we wouldn’t rule it out in the future.

Faedo, who is out of minor-league options entering spring training, loses his spot on Detroit’s 40-man roster following the addition of veteran reliever Tommy Kahnle. The 29-year-old former first-round selection excelled last year upon transitioning to a full-time relief role, posting a respectable 3.61 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 55/28 K/BB ratio across 57 1/3 innings (37 appearances, six starts). He should attract some interest on waivers in the coming days.

The 28-year-old hurler unexpectedly landed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain after returning from the paternity list earlier in the week and now it appears that the injury is a bit more serious. Faedo will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2024 season.