The Rays' Garrett Cleavinger is drawing trade interest, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. While no deal is imminent, Rosenthal notes that teams seeking left-handed bullpen support have been inquiring about Cleavinger. Cleavinger, turning 32 in April, is entering his seventh MLB season and fourth full season with the Rays. He was acquired from the Dodgers at the 2022 trade deadline and has since become a valuable asset to the Rays' bullpen. Since joining Tampa Bay, Cleavinger has maintained a solid 2.96 ERA over 152 relief innings. In 2025, he had his best season yet, boasting a 2.35 ERA, 33.7% strikeout rate, and 7.4% walk rate in 61 1/3 innings. His performance was backed by strong Statcast metrics and a bit of good fortune, as evidenced by a .244 BABIP and 91.6% strand rate. Cleavinger's versatility is evident in his strong results against both left-handed and right-handed batters, with a .602 OPS against righty-swingers and a .620 OPS against lefties in 2025. Despite his impressive 2025 performance, the Rays may be hesitant to trade Cleavinger, given his importance to the bullpen and modest salary of $2.4MM in 2026. With one year of arbitration eligibility remaining before free agency, Cleavinger represents a bargain for the Rays, especially considering the team's ongoing budget constraints. The Rays' bullpen mix is further complicated by the injury to Edwin Uceta, who is dealing with shoulder soreness and will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic. Cleavinger and Griffin Jax are set to represent the United States in the WBC, adding to the intrigue surrounding the Rays' bullpen dynamics.
