Rays Acquire Aaron Civale to Improve Ailing Rotation

Photo: Associated Press

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired RHP Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. In exchange, the Guardians will receive first baseman and highly touted prospect Kyle Manzardo.

Civale is 5-2 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts for the Guardians this season. In July, the former Guardians pitcher sported a 1.45 ERA in six starts. Civale, 28, is under team control through 2025.

The Rays addressed a desperate need with starting pitchers Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery), Drew Rasmussen (elbow ligament internal brace surgery), and Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) all on the injured list. Zach Eflin also left his start on Wednesday with left knee discomfort.

To make matters [somehow even] worse for the Rays, ace Shane McClanahan (6.00 ERA in July) and rookie Taj Bradley (7.89 ERA in July) have both struggled immensely as of late. 

Manzardo, 23, is MLB.com’s #37 overall prospect and was the Rays’ #4 prospect. The 2021 second-round pick is batting .238.342/.442 with the Durham Bulls in Triple-A this season and has batted .291/.392/.543 through three seasons in the minors, according to MLB.com.

Tampa Bay is 1.5-games back of the first place Baltimore Orioles in the AL East while Cleveland is 0.5 game back of the first place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.