Bold claim: the Rays’ bullpen could be reshaped by trading away their lone lefty setup man, Garrett Cleavinger. That surprising note from Ken Rosenthal at The Athletic—that Cleavinger is drawing strong trade interest this week from multiple teams—suggests Tampa Bay is considering a major move for the right price.
In a vacuum, this would feel very Rays: Cleavinger is a short-arm reliever earning $2.4 million with another arbitration raise coming next season, in what will be his final year of arbitration. Historically, the Rays have built a bullpen from a mix of cost-conscious, flexible pieces rather than front-page closers. Cleavinger has already notched eight saves since his 2020 MLB debut, which adds to his appeal.
But the modern Rays strategy over the past couple of seasons has been more cautious: they prefer to monitor how the season unfolds before parting with key relievers. The logic is straightforward—if there’s even a slim chance (say, 20%) that the team could contend for the playoffs, they’ll test the market for that reliever rather than gamble on a full teardown.
Rosenthal’s credibility matters here. He’s not prone to throwing rumors around lightly, and the mere fact that this rumor exists implies the Rays may believe they have sufficient left-handed depth to part with a trusted lefty-fireman if the price is right. It’s also possible the Rays didn’t reject inquiries outright, signaling a willingness to listen rather than an aggressive sell-off.
If Tampa Bay moves Cleavinger, it could push the 40-man left-handed depth chart toward more flexible roles for Ian Seymour and Joe Rock, who might see increased swing-man duties or bullpen time to maximize value. In camp, the Rays also have journeyman LHP Cam Booser, who already had a strong chance to earn a roster spot this spring.
Last season, Cleavinger posted a 2.35 ERA over 61.1 innings, marking his second straight 60-inning campaign. His numbers include a 33.7% strikeout rate (96th percentile), a 36.0% whiff rate (97th percentile), and a 7.4% walk rate (63rd percentile), underscoring his effectiveness as a left-handed option and the intriguing leverage he offers in high-leverage moments.
