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Stats

Report: Astros to acquire Evan Reifert from Rays

Evan Reifert

TB Relief Pitcher #68

Player Stats

Robert Murray of FanSided reports that the Astros will acquire RHP Evan Reifert in a trade with the Rays.

It appears Randy Flores first deal since being named general manager will be to acquire Reifert. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the return will be cash considerations for the Rays. The right-hander was returned to Tampa Bay after the Nationals selected him in the Rule 5 draft prior to the 2026 season, but Washington chose not to carry him on the 40-man roster. He forged a 2.46 ERA for Triple-A Durham, and will have a chance to win a bullpen spot with the Astros this spring in Florida.

- Christopher Crawford

Transaction

Source: Robert Murray

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Related Player News

Evan Reifert

HOU Relief Pitcher #68

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Astros acquired RHP Evan Reifert from the Rays for cash considerations.

Astros’ new general manager Randy Flores wasted no time getting to work, acquiring the 27-year-old right-hander from the Rays. Reifert made 46 appearances at Triple-A Durham in 2026, registering a strong 2.48 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and an 81/34 K/BB ratio across 58 innings of work. He’ll get an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Astros’ bullpen during spring training.
Evan Reifert

TB Relief Pitcher #68

Nationals returned Rule 5 pick RHP Evan Reifert to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Since Reifert is being returned to the Rays that means that he cleared waivers after being made available to the other teams in the league. The 25-year-old was impressive in Double-A for the Rays last season, posting a 1.96 ERA and 65/16 K/BB in 41 1/3 innings. He will likely head to Triple-A this season for Tampa Bay.
Evan Reifert

WSH Relief Pitcher #68

Rule 5 pick Evan Reifert walked four of the five Cardinals he faced and was charged with three runs Tuesday.

Reifert was terrific in Double-A for the Rays last year and entered camp with a great chance of making the Nationals pen, but he’s given up five runs in 3 2/3 innings so far. Hopefully, the walks are a one day thing. He issued only one in his previous three appearances.
Evan Reifert

WSH Relief Pitcher

Nationals selected RHP Evan Reifert from the Rays with the fifth pick of the 2024 Rule 5 draft.

Reifert was very impressive in the minors with a 1.96 ERA and 65/16 K/BB with Double-A Montgomery across 35 appearances and 41 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old will get a chance to show if his stuff translates with the Nationals in the Grapefruit League.
Evan Reifert

HOU Relief Pitcher #68

Rays reassigned RHPs Evan Reifert, Anthony Molina, and Evan McKendry to minor league camp.

None of these players are considered top prospects, though Reifert is the most familiar name after coming over from the Brewers in the Mike Brosseau trade in November of 2021. The 23-year-old had an uneven year in the Rays’ minor league system last year, though he finished on a high note in the Arizona Fall League.
Evan Reifert

HOU Relief Pitcher #68

Rays acquired RHP Evan Reifert from the Brewers for INF Mike Brosseau.

Reifert recorded a pristine 2.10 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 103/36 K/BB ratio across 60 innings (37 relief appearances) between Low-A Carolina and High-A Wisconsin in the Brewers’ system last season. The 22-year-old righty projects as a versatile multi-inning reliever in the future.

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Ryne Stanek

STL Relief Pitcher #55
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The Cardinals are declining Ryne Stanek’s $6 million option for 2027, says Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Stanek’s 4.02 ERA in 70 appearances last season was his low mark since he came in at 1.15 for the 2022 Astros. The Cardinals, though, are going to buy him out for $1 million instead of paying him $6 million for 2027.
- Matthew Pouliot

Source: Derrick Goold

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Miguel Andujar

FA Designated Hitter #41
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Padres announced that INF Miguel Andujar declined his half of a mutual option for 2027.

The Padres obviously weren’t picking up their half of Andujar’s $8 million option, and he was getting a $2.5 million buyout either way. Initially the Padres’ top option at DH, Andujar wound up missing most of the final 3 1/2 months with a hamstring strain and then a wrist fracture. He did return for the postseason, going 0-for-3 with a walk off the bench. He hit .259/.303/.423 in 74 games while healthy. It’s possible he’ll get a major league deal as a platoon starter against lefties.
- Matthew Pouliot

Transaction
San Diego Padres
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Lucas Giolito

FA Starting Pitcher #55
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Padres declined RHP Lucas Giolito’s mutual option for 2027.

A late addition as he tried to overcome his late-season elbow issue with the Red Sox in 2025, Giolito signed one-year, $3 million deal with an $8 million mutual option in late April. With his velocity down 2-3 mph, he pitched a total of seven times for Padres in the first half, amassing a 5.16 ERA and an ugly 18/23 K/BB in 29 2/3 innings. He then went on the IL with elbow inflammation and never returned, leaving his future very uncertain.
- Matthew Pouliot

Transaction
San Diego Padres
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Griffin Canning

FA Starting Pitcher #17
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Padres declined RHP Griffin Canning’s mutual option for 2027.

Canning gets a $1.5 million buyout of the $5 million option. He had a 5.68 ERA in 11 starts and 19 relief appearances for the Padres after returning from a torn Achilles’ tendon he suffered with the Mets in 2025.
- Matthew Pouliot

Transaction
San Diego Padres
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Eric Wagaman

NYM 1st Baseman #39
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Mets sent INF Eric Wagaman, OF Cristian Pache, RHP Philip Abner and RHP Cameron Weston outright to Triple-A Syracuse.

Pache was the only one who had been announced as being waived, as he was bumped from the roster to make room for Kyren Paris. Still, there are no surprises here. Wagaman, who hit .191/.269/.319 in 26 games for the Mets last season, and Pache will become free agents, while Abner and Weston will remain in the organization since this is their first time clearing waivers and they don’t qualify for minor league free agency.
- Matthew Pouliot

Transaction

Source: Anthony DiComo
Cristian Pache

Cameron Weston

Philip Abner
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Teruaki Sato

FA 3rd Baseman
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Teruaki Sato was officially posted by the Hanshin Tigers of Japan on Sunday.

Today is the first day players can be posted, and those players can start negotiating with teams on Monday. As expected, right-handers Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh from Japan and Korean third baseman Si Hwan Roh were also posted today. The players from Japan have a 45-day window to agree to contracts, as opposed to 30 days for Roh, but the impending lockout makes that extra time moot.
- Matthew Pouliot

Source: Mark Feinsand
Si Hwan Roh

Hiromi Itoh

Kaima Taira
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Garrett Whitlock

BOS Relief Pitcher #22
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Red Sox exercised RHP Garrett Whitlock’s $8.25 million option for 2027.

There had been some rumblings that the Red Sox could be working on a long-term extension with the 30-year-old right-hander, but there were never any doubts that he would return to be a major part of the Red Sox’ bullpen in 2027. Whitlock was outstanding over 54 appearances in 2026, registering a 1.72 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 59/9 K/BB ratio over 52 1/3 innings while notching seven victories and four saves.
- David Shovein

Transaction

Source: Andrew Parker

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Jordan Groshans

ATL 3rd Baseman #86
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Braves re-signed INF Jordan Groshans to a minor league contract.

Groshans, a first-round pick (12th overall) from the 2018 draft class (Blue Jays), had a nice season in the minor leagues in 2026 — slashing .276/.339/.576 with 33 homers, 88 RBI and a 91/42 K/BB ratio over 495 plate appearances between Double-A Columbus and Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s likely to open the 2027 season at the Triple-A level.
- David Shovein

Transaction

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Yuki Matsui

SD Relief Pitcher #1
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Padres’ left-hander Yuki Matsui will not exercise his opt-out clause and will remain with the team for 2027.

It’s an interesting decision as Matsui is only set to make $6.5 million in 2027 after a remarkable season in which he posted a 1.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 68/36 K/BB ratio over 64 innings in 54 appearances out of the Padres’ bullpen. He’ll once again function as part of the Padres’ setup corps in front of dominant closer Mason Miller.
- David Shovein

Source: Kevin Acee

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Kyle Hart

SD Relief Pitcher #68
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Padres exercised RHP Kyle Hart’s $2.25 million club option for 2027.

The 33-year-old hurler made 46 appearances for the Padres during the 2026 campaign, compiling a 4.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 59/26 K/BB ratio over 64 innings of work. He’s likely to once again operate in a swingman role for the Padres in 2027 at a very affordable rate.
- David Shovein

Transaction

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