Rays DFA Ken Waldichuk, Roster Shuffle Ahead

This blog post digs into the Tampa Bay Rays’ recent roster move—specifically, their decision to designate pitcher Ken Waldichuk for assignment.

Let’s look at Waldichuk’s winding journey through multiple teams, his injury setbacks, and maybe why the Rays made such a quick call. There’s a lot to unpack about how teams juggle player development and keep their rosters sharp in the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball.

The Ever-Turning Roster Door: A Reluctant Farewell

The Tampa Bay Rays, always nimble with their roster, have made another move that’s got baseball fans talking.

This time, it’s about a player who barely had a chance to get comfortable.

The latest shuffle sees left-handed pitcher Ken Waldichuk designated for assignment. The Rays needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Ben Williamson.

Williamson arrived in a three-team deal that sent Brendan Donovan to Seattle. He’s a future play for the Rays, but for Waldichuk, it’s just another stop on a long, winding road.

Waldichuk’s Whirlwind Tour: From Oakland to Atlanta to Tampa Bay

Waldichuk’s journey lately? It’s honestly a blur of claims and trades.

He’s got talent, sure, but MLB teams never stop chasing upside.

The Rays only just picked up Waldichuk in a DFA trade with the Atlanta Braves. The Braves themselves had grabbed him from the Oakland Athletics.

Now, he’s the third organization to claim him this offseason alone. Even by modern standards, that’s a dizzying pace.

Back in 2019, the New York Yankees took Waldichuk in the fifth round. He moved up the prospect lists quickly and even landed in the big 2022 Frankie Montas deal, heading to the A’s.

But that trade? It hasn’t exactly paid off. Montas has battled injuries, and the A’s didn’t get much to show for their end either.

The Statistical Snapshot: A Pitcher’s Recent Struggles

Waldichuk came up with some prospect buzz, but his big-league numbers just haven’t matched the hype.

He’s also had to fight through a tough injury.

Across 31 MLB appearances from 2022 to 2023—he started 25 of those—Waldichuk put up a 5.35 ERA. His strikeout and walk rates lagged behind league averages, so he struggled to miss bats and keep runners off base.

Things got even tougher in May 2024 when he had Tommy John surgery. That knocked him out for a long stretch.

He finally got back on a Triple-A mound last July. It was a rough return.

Last season in Triple-A, he gave up 52 runs in just 51 innings. That’s a tough stat line, even considering the hitter-friendly parks at that level.

His fastball, once around 94 mph as a rookie, dropped to about 91.6 mph. That kind of velo dip? It’s hard to ignore and usually means a pitcher’s in for a tough road ahead.

The Reclamation Project: Why Teams Keep Taking a Chance

Despite his recent struggles and a long injury history, both the Braves and the Rays saw something in Waldichuk they wanted. In baseball, teams often gamble on potential over current performance.

The big draw for clubs is his remaining team control and low cost. Waldichuk still has two minor-league option years left, so teams have some breathing room to work with his development.

He signed for just above the league minimum ($825,000) in November. He’ll be under team control through arbitration for at least four more seasons.

This setup makes him a textbook “low-cost, high-upside reclamation project“ for any club willing to take a shot. Maybe he’ll regain his form and velocity as he gets further from Tommy John surgery—maybe not, but that’s the bet.

So who’s next to open their roster to Ken Waldichuk? That’s the million-dollar question.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Rays Designate Ken Waldichuk For Assignment