The Rays found themselves in a bind during the first week of the season when LHP Ryan Sherriff was placed on the Restricted List. Sherriff’s reasons for stepping away from the game are not known nor are they any of our business. Neil Solondz reports that Sherriff, “has the club’s support.” Sherriff surprised in 2020 as a late addition to the club that allowed zero runs across his appearances in the majors and the World Series; we wish him well.
What this article is concerned with is that the Rays were in a situation they did not expect: they had an opening on the 26-man roster the third day of the season.