The Rays have a reputation for finding pitchers other teams didn’t want and few fans have heard of and then instantly turning them into good major league relievers.
It’s a cliche at this point, fodder for playoff bingo. And while that narrative is likely overblown, it’s worth paying attention to the moves the Rays make on the margins, because that’s where organizational philosophy shows itself most clearly.
The more interesting story is not that these pitchers came from nowhere. It’s that while it may not be immediately obvious, they usually all do something very well.
This article is going to focus specifically on a handful of moves and adjustments the Rays made in the 2021 season.