TAMPA, Fla. – The Rays made their first moves of the off-season Monday, though nothing unexpected. They were largely of the roster maintenance variety while also naming a familiar face, Ozzie Timmons, as assistant hitting coach.
Pitchers Shane McClanahan, Manuel Rodriguez, Hunter Bigge, and Alex Faedo, and outfielders Jonny DeLuca and Stuart Fairchild were reinstated from the 60-day injured list. To clear room, Faedo and Fairchild were designated for assignment along with pitchers Garrett Acton, Caleb Boushley, Joey Gerber and Cole Wilcox.
The Rays also acquired outfielder Ryan Vilade from the Reds in exchange for cash considerations. The 28-year-old second-round selection of the Rockies in 2017 made his MLB debut with the team in 2021. He has also played with the Tigers and Cardinals, from which Cincinnati plucked off waivers in June. Vilade has spent majority of the past four seasons in Triple-A and is 9-for-64 (.141) in 28 big league games.
Timmons was a special assistant (coaching development) in the Rays’ organization last season after spending three seasons as the Brewers’ hitting coach. The Tampa native and former UT standout was manager Kevin Cash’s first base coach from 2018-21. Timmons initially joined the organization in 2007 and spent the next decade working his way up the ladder as a hitting coach before joining the parent club.
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