Brooks Raley

Raley has had a winding career path, as he struggled mightily in an initial stint in the majors, which came all the way back in 2012. In an increasingly familiar story, he signed in the KBO and resurrected his career across five seasons with the Lotte Giants. Now entering his third season of his second stint in the majors, Raley joined the Rays in the offseason and figures to serve a meaningful role in the team's bullpen. That possibility became even greater after Nick Anderson and Pete Fairbanks - both high-leverage arms - were placed on the 60-day injured list on Opening Day. Originally a starter, Raley's stuff has played up out of the bullpen since his return to the league, as he's posted a strikeout rate above 30 percent - and that mark spiked to 37 percent in 2021 - in each of the last three seasons. Home runs are the primary remaining blemish on his profile, as he's surrendered nine home runs in only 69 innings of work (1.2 HR/9) across his last two seasons. If he can keep the ball in the yard effectively, he could factor into the saves picture in Tampa Bay, though he'd likely fall behind at least Andrew Kittredge in terms of securing a high-leverage role.

Raley first reached the majors in 2012 with the Cubs, got injured the following year, was back in the minors the following season and then was in Korea from 2015-2019 working as a starting pitcher with a fair amount of success in the KBO. He came back to the majors in 2020, initially as a reliever for Cincinnati before being traded to Houston at the trade deadline. As a former starter, Raley can throw five different pitches, making him a bit unusual for a middle-relief lefty as his repertoire is not exactly situational. He certainly does not throw hard (around 90 mph on average), but throws a high-spin-rate fastball and curveballs and in the small sample size of 2020, did an outstanding job suppressing contact. In fact, his average exit velocity was in the 99th percentile. His fantasy value will come mostly in the form of vultured wins in the middle innings.

Raley spent most of the year as a mediocre starter for Triple-A Iowa, but all nine of his appearances for the Cubs saw him as a long reliever. While he has above-average control, Raley is too hittable to achieve sustained success at the high levels. He'll likely spend most of the year with Iowa again.

Raley made five starts for the Cubs last year and got shelled (8.14 ERA, 16:11 K:BB in 24.1 innings). His work at Double-A was passable before that, but at Triple-A not so much. He's left-handed, but throws his fastball in the high-80s, and at 24 he probably doesn't have a high major league ceiling assuming he even gets back there in 2013. Most likely, Raley will serve as organizational depth while trying to figure out hitters at Iowa again.