Joey

Gerber

Gerber was designated for assignment on Monday, so the Rays were able to facilitate a trade for him instead of just outright losing him. The 28-year-old posted a 2.08 ERA in 4 1/3 innings for the Rays last season but had a 6.23 ERA in 43 1/3 innings at Triple-A. He’s just organizational depth for the Mets.

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.

Gerber threw 35 pitches on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. He has a 2.08 ERA in 4 1/3 innings with the Rays, but will be sent down so the team can bring up a fresh arm in the bullpen.

The 28-year-old has a 6.09 ERA in 44 1/3 innings for the Rays in Triple-A this year, but the Rays need fresh arms in their bullpen. He has not been in the big leagues since throwing 15 2/3 innings for the Mariners back in 2020.

This is a procedural move since Gerber has already thrown 26 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, but he was not on the 40-man roster and had an opt-out. The Rays have now added him to the 40-man and moved Hunter Bigge from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to make space.

Gerber will augment Tampa Bay’s organizational relief depth after missing most of the last four years due to injury. The 27-year-old righty made 17 relief appearances for the Mariners during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, posting a serviceable 4.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 6/5 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings of work. He’s the definition of a low-risk lottery ticket.

As is typically the case at this point in March, there were no real surprises among this batch of cuts for the Yankees. Rice, 25, went 2-for-7 (.286) with a pair of RBI and a 2/3 K/BB ratio over five games in Grapefruit League action. He’ll begin the season as extra catching depth in the upper minors.

Gerber was released by the Mariners back in late June after sustaining a right forearm strain and has managed to find a new opportunity with the Yankees. The 24-year-old righty made 17 relief appearances for Seattle during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. He’ll serve as organizational relief depth for New York.

Like Sergio Romo before him, Gerber also cleared unconditional release waivers on Wednesday and became a free agent. The 24-year-old hurler has been sidelined due to a mild forearm strain, but was booted off of the M’s 40-man roster earlier in the week to make room for Tommy Milone. He’ll try to find another opportunity elsewhere.

Talk about adding insult to injury. Gerber is currently sidelined due to a mild forearm strain and now he gets booted off of the 40-man roster so that the Mariners can promote Tommy Milone on Saturday night. There’s a good chance that he’ll pass through waivers unclaimed and continue his rehab at Triple-A Tacoma.