After 5 Years With Team, Rays DFA Pitcher

For five seasons, he bounced between the Tampa Bay Rays' starting rotation and bullpen, giving them the innings they needed. Now 30-year-old right-hander Ryan Yarbrough has been designated for assignment. 

Yarbrough was DFA'd by #Rays, and likely to be non-tendered by Friday's deadline. That would make him a free agent, and able to sign with any team, including #Rays

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) November 16, 2022

The Rays had tried to arrange for a trade of Yarbrough before yesterday's 40-man roster deadline, but as noted by MLB Insider Jon Morosi, teams knew that Yarbrough was up for salary arbitration, and suspected what the Rays were really up to. 

Ryan Yarbrough designated for assignment after the #Rays were unable to reach a trade agreement prior to the 6 pm ET deadline.

Yarbrough is eligible for salary arbitration, and interested clubs calculated that there was a good chance of a non-tender.@MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 16, 2022

If teams were aware that the Rays would simply non-tender him by Friday and make him a free agent, why bother to give up an asset? He'll most likely be available as of Friday for any team to sign.  

Thank you Ryan Yarbrough for eating 579.2 innings ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gGfzQYffzo

— ⁵ (@WanderToHOF) November 16, 2022

He certainly was an innings-eater for Tampa, throwing nearly 600 innings over the past five years, to a 4.33 ERA, with a 7.3-to-2.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

His versatility to start or relieve should still make him a valuable target for teams.

 Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports