Rays send down Josh Fleming in shaping final roster - Tampa Bay Times

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PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays on Sunday set what appears to be their final roster, optioning pitchers Josh Fleming, Trevor Richards and Chris Mazza to the minors.

That leaves the team with 28 players on its spring roster, including two that are headed to the injured list (first baseman Ji-Man Choi and outfielder Brett Phillips). It has until Thursday afternoon to set its final 26-man roster in advance of the regular-season opener.

Fleming, who made an impressive 2020 debut as a starter, Richards and Mazza are three relievers better equipped to provide length by working multiple innings.

Rays manager Kevin Cash has been very complimentary of Fleming’s work this spring.

“He’s had a really good spring,” Cash said after Fleming’s Friday outing. “His stuff’s good. He can really pitch. See how this shakes down here in the next couple days, certainly, but he’s made every strong impression possible.”

With the schedule giving the Rays two off days among the first eight of the season, they opted for relievers who work better in short stints, such as right-handers Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Thompson, and lefties Ryan Sherriff and Jeffrey Springs.

The Rays open the season Thursday with three games in Miami, are off, then have three games in Boston before another off day. Their needs may shift after that, as they then embark on a stretch of 30 games in 31 days. Plus, after the first 10 days of the season, players can be optioned down and called up.

The Rays’ opening-day roster appears to look like this:

PITCHERS (14): Chris Archer, Diego Castillo, Pete Fairbanks, Tyler Glasnow, Rich Hill, Andrew Kittredge, Collin McHugh, Cody Reed, Chaz Roe, Ryan Sherriff, Jeffrey Springs, Ryan Thompson, Michael Wacha, Ryan Yarbrough.

CATCHERS (2): Francisco Mejia, Mike Zunino

INFIELDERS (6): Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Yoshi Tsutsugo, Joey Wendle

OUTFIELDERS (4): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows

INJURED LIST (7): Nick Anderson*, Jalen Beeks*, Yonny Chirinos*, Ji-Man Choi, Oliver Drake*, Brett Phillips, Colin Poche* (* 60-day list).

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March 28, 2021 at 11:18PM
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2021/03/28/rays-send-down-josh-fleming-in-shaping-final-roster/

Rays send down Josh Fleming in shaping final roster - Tampa Bay Times

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