SUMMERTIME: PAMPA BAY RAY ANNOUNCES TWO ESSENTIAL PLAYERS FOR___.

Reuniting with a former all-star pitcher, the Tampa Bay Rays hope to improve their starting rotation.

The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an agreement with former All-Star pitcher Jake Odorizzi, who was a five-year member of the team before, in an attempt to strengthen the starting rotation.

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with an old buddy, signing right-hander Jake Odorizzi to a minor league contract, in an attempt to strengthen the starting rotation.

They announced this on Friday via social media:

RHP Jake Odorizzi has been invited to major league camp by the Tampa Bay Rays and has signed a minor league contract.

After playing for five seasons with the Rays, Odorizzi, an 11-year veteran, has also played for the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves. In 2023, he was a member of the Texas Rangers; however, an injury kept him out of the season.

Odorizzi’s lifetime record is 74-69 with a 3.99 ERA. In the 2019 season, he was selected to the Twins All-Star Game after finishing with a 3.51 ERA and a 15-7 record.

For the Rays, who face numerous uncertainties with their starting rotation going into 2024, the agreement makes sense. During the offseason, the organization dealt star player Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers. After that, they will miss the entire season without Shane McLanahan due to Tommy John surgery, and they may be without Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs for the most of the season due to severe elbow injuries.

And they only found out this past week that Taj Bradley will most likely start the season on the injured list due to a pectoral problem.