Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen is about to bear an inner brace surgical procedure that may finish his 2023 season, in line with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Instances. Rasmussen has been out with a flexor pressure since mid-Could, although the membership initially hoped he may return this season. The 27-year-old hurler now just isn’t anticipated return till halfway by way of the 2024 marketing campaign, per Topkin.

The information is yet one more blow to a Rays rotation that misplaced left-hander Shane McClanahan to the injured listing on the finish of June. Rasmussen will now be a part of left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who underwent Tommy John surgical procedure again in April, in lacking the rest of the 2023 marketing campaign. The Rays are presently leaning on a rotation of Tyler Glasnow, Taj Bradley, Zach Eflin, and Yonny Chirinos as they await McClanahan’s return from the IL. Whereas that’s a stable group who has mixed for a 3.99 in 252 1/3 innings this season, it’s arduous to disclaim to that each Rasmussen (2.62 ERA in eight begins) and Springs (0.56 ERA in three begins) could be main upgrades to the present group if wholesome.

Information that Tampa shall be with out Rasmussen for the remainder of the season comes simply three weeks earlier than the August 1 commerce deadline. The Rays are the highest staff within the AL with a 57-34 document at the same time as they’ve not been capable of subject their 5 finest starters on the identical time for a single flip by way of the rotation all season.  Nonetheless, with out Rasmussen to assist bolster the pitching workers down the stretch and into the playoffs the membership’s already-acknowledged want so as to add pitching within the coming weeks is simply intensified.

After all, the marketplace for beginning pitchers is at all times a aggressive one, and GM Peter Bendix beforehand indicated the membership was unlikely to take part in a bidding battle for essentially the most extremely sought-after hurlers. Whereas it’s potential the current information on Rasmussen has elevated the membership’s urgency to make impactful additions, the Rays should still choose to stay to much less sought-after choices like Jack Flaherty or Michael Lorenzen relatively than pursue top-of-the-market arms like Lucas Giolito.

Wanting past the 2023 marketing campaign, the Rays are presently set to enter the 2024 marketing campaign with out the companies of both Rasmussen or Springs. Glasnow, McClanahan, Bradley, Eflin, and Chirinos are all managed by way of a minimum of 2024, giving them a believable Opening Day rotation nonetheless underneath contract, however with minimal depth outdoors of that group, it could hardly be a shock if the membership pursued moreover beginning depth throughout the coming offseason- that’s, until they add an arm with a number of years of management this summer season.