The Tampa Bay Rays acquired All-Star relief pitcher Jesse Crain from the Chicago White Sox on Monday, ESPN's Buster Olney reports. The deal could be more complicated than most completed this month, as Crain currently sits on the disabled list with a shoulder strain.
White Sox trade Jesse Crain to Rays
One of the game’s top relievers heads to Tampa Bay.
USA TODAY Sports
With neither team certain of how much Crain will be able to pitch down the stretch, it appears the White Sox’s return will be based on his ability to take the mound. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman says the Rays will be giving up players to be named later or cash in exchange for Crain, so the pieces heading back to Chicago aren’t immediately apparent.
This is presumably by design, as FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports the package going to Chicago will “almost certainly [be] contingent on how much he pitches for [the] Rays [the] rest of way.” In other words, the more Crain pitches, the more Tampa Bay needs to give up later.
The first step will be getting him healthy, but the 32-year-old has been lights out this season when able to take the mound. In 38 appearances, he’s posted a 0.74 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 11 walks, earning his first career All-Star nod.
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