Rays, White Sox Swap Joe Rock For Oliver Dunn
The Rays and White Sox introduced a one-for-one commerce that sends lefty reliever Joe Rock from Tampa Bay to Chicago. minor league infielder Oliver Dunn goes to the Rays; Dunn had not been on Chicago’s 40-man roster.
Chicago optioned Rock to Triple-A Charlotte and transferred Kyle Teel to the 60-day injured listing to open a 40-man spot. That’s a procedural transfer, because the 60-day window backdates to Opening Day. Teel will not be again till late June on the earliest after struggling an LCL strain in his left knee over the weekend.
A 6’6″ southpaw, Rock was a second-round decide by Colorado in 2021. The Rays acquired him in Spring Training 2024 for former first-rounder Greg Jones. Rock spent that season figuring out of the Triple-A rotation, struggling to a 4.58 earned run common. He made a really transient MLB debut final summer season, pitching 7 2/3 innings of two-run balls with 11 strikeouts over three appearances.
Rock in any other case spent the season in a swing position in Triple-A, posting a 5.21 ERA throughout 96 2/3 frames. The Rays moved him to brief reduction this 12 months within the hope that his stuff would play up in 1-2 inning stints. Rock has missed extra bats, placing out 27 of 78 opponents (34.6%) within the minors.
His 92.9 mph common fastball is not a lot above the place he sat final 12 months, although, and Rock has battled the worst management of his profession. He has walked 17 batters and plunked 4 extra, giving out free passes to greater than 1 / 4 of batters confronted. Rock has allowed 10 runs (9 earned) by 15 Triple-A innings this 12 months.
The lack of strikes had pushed the Ohio University product to the perimeter of the roster. The Rays did not designate Rock for task however had assured sufficient on him that they have been prepared to deal him for a depth infielder on a minor league contract. Chicago will see if a change of surroundings can get him on observe. Rock is in his second of three possibility years, so there’s nonetheless some roster flexibility.
Sean Newcomb and Bryan Hudson have pitched nicely as Will Venable’s prime two lefty relievers. The Sox introduced Brandon Eisert again up from Charlotte final week as a 3rd southpaw within the MLB bullpen. Tyler Schweitzer, Tyler Gilbert and Chris Murphy are on the 40-man roster and on optionally available task. The Sox actually aren’t missing left-handed bullpen arms.
Dunn is a 28-year-old utilityman who appeared on the MLB degree with the Brewers from 2024-25. The lefty batter owns a .206/.261/.290 slash with one residence run in 145 profession plate appearances. Milwaukee despatched Dunn unclaimed by waivers final September and allowed him to stroll as a minor league free agent. I’ve signed a non-roster cope with the Sox in December.
After struggling to a .208/.315/.338 line in Triple-A a 12 months in the past, Dunn has gotten out to a significantly better begin this season. He hit .296/.397/.533 with eight homers in 40 video games for Charlotte. Dunn takes lots of pitches and had proven sturdy on-base numbers up by Double-A. He’s primarily a 3rd baseman who can play the center infield if needed and has some left discipline expertise within the minors.
The Rays not too long ago misplaced one in every of their left-handed bench bats when Jake Fraley suffered a sports activities hernia damage that required surgical procedure. They’re additionally a little bit shorthanded within the infield with Ben Williamson day-to-day with again tightness. Tampa Bay would possibly add Dunn on to the MLB bench if Williamson requires an injured listing stint. They have no depth infielders on optionally available task to Triple-A, and Dunn has outhit inner depth items Logan Davidson and Raynel Delgado. Tampa Bay has a pair of openings on the 40-man roster in the event that they wish to choose Dunn’s contract.
