Cole

Wilcox

Wilcox was the last of the four players from the Blake Snell trade with the Padres still with the Rays. He made just one major league appearance for the team, giving up seven runs — three earned — in one inning in September. In Triple-A, he showed improved velocity, averaging 95.8 mph with his fastball, and had a 3.70 ERA and a 63/27 K/BB in 58 1/3 innings. He’ll be a long shot to claim a bullpen spot out of spring training.

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.

Wilcox heads back to the minors after being torched for seven runs — three earned — over one inning of work on Friday against the Red Sox in his big-league debut.

Fun story about Wilcox is that he is the last player remaining on Tampa Bay from the trade that sent Blake Snell to the Padres. Luis Patiño, Blake Hunt, and Francisco Mejía are all off the team, with none of them having a major impact. Wilcox shifted into a bullpen role this season and has a 3.71 ERA and 57/24 K/BB ratio in 51 innings for Triple-A Durham.

It’s a bummer for Wilcox, who was fantastic in 10 Low-A starts this season before getting injured. Acquired from the Padres in the Blake Snell trade, Wilcox is now unlikely to pitch in games until 2023.

Wilcox allowed a pair of hits, and he didn’t walk anyone. It was the first start of the 21-year-old’s professional career, and it comes after the right-hander was dealt in the offseason from San Diego to Tampa Bay in the Blake Snell trade. The 80th pick of the 2021 draft, Wildox has stuff that suggests that could be a steal with a high 90s fastball along with an above-average change and slider to keep hitters honest. Control has been an issue for the right-hander, and some believe that the 6-foot-5 hurler fits better in the bullpen. Tampa Bay will give him a chance to start, however, knowing that the stuff should not have any trouble translating to relief if he cannot.

The Padres just signed Wilcox to a record $3.3 million after taking him in the third round in June’s draft. One way to look at it is that the Rays landed another first-round pick this year. The 21-year-old Wilcox has an electric fastball, but he’s yet to throw a pitch in pro ball and there’s been some difference of opinion about his possible long-term role. Still, he’s an exciting name to follow.

The deal is pending a physical. R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports was the first to report that the two sides were close. Lin reports that Francisco Mejia, Luis Patino, Cole Wilcox and Blake Hunt would be heading to the Rays in the blockbuster deal. Rumors of Snell being available have run rampant since the start of the season, and with one of -- if not the -- best systems in baseball, the Padres were considered strong contenders to land the southpaw. The former Cy Young Award winner is owed $10.5 million in 2021, 12.5 million in 2022 and $16 million in 2023 after signing a five-year $50 million extension in the spring of 2019. He’s coming off a season where he registered a 3.24 ERA and 63/18 K/BB ratio in 50 innings, and he was better in the postseason with a 3.03 mark and 37 strikeouts over 29 2/3 frames. This is obviously a huge get for San Diego, and Snell should pitch at or near the top of the rotation whenever the season is able to start.

The Padres lured Wilcox away from returning to Georgia by giving him a third-round record $3.3 million signing bonus. While he will be given a chance to start over the long haul, it’s possible the Padres could view him as an option for the bullpen this season.

That’s record money for a third-round pick. Wilcox would have been a first-round pick if not for the signability questions. The Georgia Bulldog had one of the best fastballs in the draft, and while there’s good reason for optimism about him as a starter, he could also quickly become a force at the back of the bullpen.