With the Rays needing to protect minor leaguers from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, several players were added to the 40-man roster and several players lost their jobs.
The Rays started by adding right-handed pitcher Chase Whitley off of waivers from the Yankees. Whitley started 16 games for the Yankees over the last two seasons with a 5.02 ERA.
In addition, the Rays added minor league pitchers Blake Snell (the 2015 minor league player of the year), Taylor Guerrieri (the Rays’ first-round pick in 2011), Jacob Faria, and German Marquez as well as infielder Taylor Motter.