The Rays have traded for left-handed pitcher from the Blue Jays, as confirmed by both teams. The Blue Jays, who had designated him for assignment earlier this week after signing Anthony Santander, will receive cash considerations in return. Since the Rays had an open spot on their 40-man roster, no additional roster moves are needed.
The 27-year-old is joining his second major league team after being drafted by the Blue Jays in the 18th round of the 2019 draft. He made his MLB debut last year, although his experience at the big league level is limited, having pitched just 6 2/3 innings for Toronto, giving up three earned runs.
The Rays are likely more interested in his performance in the minors, where he has been solid. Over the past four seasons, he has pitched 264 2/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA, a 29.1% strikeout rate, and a 7.7% walk rate.
Despite his strong minor league numbers, Eisert doesn’t possess the high-velocity stuff that many teams seek in relievers today. His fastball averaged just 91.2 mph in his brief major league stint and was slightly slower (90.2 mph) in Triple-A last year. The Jays may have believed his lower velocity would hinder his success in the majors.
The Rays, with an open roster spot, will take the opportunity to evaluate Eisert. He still has options, which is beneficial for a team like Tampa that often moves pitchers on and off the roster. Garrett Cleavinger is currently the top left-handed reliever, and although Mason Montgomery got some big league bullpen work last year, he’s mainly a starter in the minors. Both Eisert and Montgomery have options, so it’s possible the Rays will rotate them as the second lefty behind Cleavinger, sending them to Triple-A when needed.
Leave a Reply