Tampa Bay Rays send down Snell, still have plenty of pitching options
The Tampa Bay Rays already boast a top-five pitching staff in MLB. Even after optioning promising pitcher Blake Snell to Triple-A, they shouldn't have any difficulty finding a solid replacement for their rotation.
Some teams have difficulty when a pitcher goes down or isn't cutting it in the big leagues. Some teams have the ability to send down pitchers willingly because their organization is chock full of them. The Tampa Bay Rays fall into the latter category.
They optioned young southpaw Blake Snell to Triple-A Saturday after the 24-year-old earned his fourth loss of the year. He has been considered one of the team's top prospects since last season, but has garnered a 4.71 ERA and bloated 1.61 WHIP in 42 innings this season.
But Tampa Bay doesn't have to worry, as it possesses a stacked group of pitching prospects in the farm system.
The Rays already boast one of the league's best pitching staffs – their team ERA is ranked fifth at 3.65 – and it could be on the verge of getting better.
Tampa Bay has two pitchers ranked in MLB.com's top 30 prospects in Brent Honeywell and Jose De Leon, who it acquired during the offseason. Honeywell has perplexed hitters in Double-A to start the year, owning a 2.08 ERA and 0.62 WHIP. He hasn't fared as well in Triple-A, but still holds an average 4.05 ERA while striking out more than a batter per inning.
De Leon started the season on the disabled list with an undisclosed injury but returned this weekend to A-ball. He has some experience in the big leagues, starting four games last year for the Dodgers, posting an unimpressive 6.35 ERA – yes, it's a small sample size, but still not great.
He did have his moments of brilliance in Triple-A though.
Those could be the two guys Tampa Bay fans see by the end of the season. Yet there are a few other starters that could be major league ready soon, however.
Righties Jacob Faria and Chih-Wei Hu could both be options for the club in the near future.
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Faria has spent his season in Triple-A whiffing batter after batter – he has 58 Ks in 36 1/3 innings despite possessing a 3.47 ERA. This is his seventh year in the organization, and he's still just 23 years old.
Hu has already been called up for the Rays, but just for a few bullpen appearances. In Triple-A, he's started just three games, but has been serviceable nonetheless, accumulating a 3.44 ERA in five appearances with a 1.15 WHIP.
Considering Hu has already put on a Tampa Bay jersey, he could be the first one promoted heading into the summer. But any of the four could get the call.
Maybe none of them will earn a start for the Rays this season. With long relievers Erasmo Ramirez and Chase Whitley, they may not need the prospects to eat up innings, barring any injuries.
But there will be some point in the season where Tampa Bay will need an arm, and the front office will have to decide who is ready.
The Rays have plenty of options, and that's a good thing for them.