The Tampa Bay Rays continued their late-season roster maneuvering on Sunday, designating right-handed pitcher Chris Roycroft for assignment.
The move came as the club reinstated right-hander Manuel Rodríguez from the 60-day injured list and sent Griffin Jax on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Durham.
Roycroft, who stands an imposing 6-foot-8 and weighs 230 pounds, had been a frequent shuttle passenger between the majors and Durham since the Rays acquired him from the St. Louis Cardinals on June 23.
The Cardinals had designated the 29-year-old for assignment days earlier before trading him for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Tampa Bay immediately optioned him to Durham, then recalled him multiple times over the ensuing weeks as bullpen needs arose.
In 11 appearances with the Rays, Roycroft posted a 1-0 record with a 6.52 ERA, 14 strikeouts, and one save across 19⅓ innings. Overall in 2026, combining his time with both clubs, he finished with an 8.39 ERA in 24⅔ innings and 18 strikeouts.
For his career, the former undrafted free agent owns a 3-5 mark and 6.44 ERA in 79⅔ innings spanning parts of three seasons.
The towering right-hander first reached the majors with St. Louis in 2024, showing promise as a ground-ball specialist with a sinker that touched the mid-to-upper 90s and strong extension generated by his long levers. He logged a solid 4.19 ERA in 34⅓ innings as a rookie.
Results deteriorated afterward, however, as command issues and elevated contact rates limited his effectiveness. The Rays hoped their player-development staff could unlock more consistency from the big frame and hard stuff, but the numbers never fully cooperated at the big-league level.
Roycroft’s designation opens a 40-man roster spot while the Rays, sitting first in the American League East at 77-53, continue to manage their pitching depth down the stretch.
Tampa Bay has seven days to trade him, place him on waivers, or release him. If he clears waivers, he could remain in the organization as minor-league depth.
For a pitcher whose size alone turns heads on any mound, the next opportunity may come quickly. At 29 and still possessing velocity and ground-ball ability,
Roycroft remains a candidate for another club seeking bullpen length or a reclamation project. For now, his brief chapter in Tampa Bay has closed with the familiar designation for assignment that so often defines the margins of a major-league roster.
The Rays next play Monday night in Detroit as they push toward October.
