The Tampa Bay Rays received good news on Monday regarding their closer Jake McGee. Manager Kevin Cash is optimistic about the team following an active offseason.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, McGee played catch for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left elbow earlier in the offseason. The arthroscopic surgery removed a loose body in his elbow and will keep him out of action until mid- to late-April, but he took the latest step in his recovery on Monday.
The left-hander had his best professional season in 2014 after compiling a 5-2 record with a 1.89 ERA. 0.90 WHIP, 90 strikeouts and 19 saves in 73 games (71 1/3 innings). He was promoted to the closer role in mid-June and earned his first save against the Houston Astros on June 15. McGee notched career-highs in games, games finished, innings pitched, strikeouts, WHIP and saves.
Despite McGee's surgery earlier in the offseason, manager Kevin Cash is optimistic about the team heading into 2015. President of baseball operations Matt Silverman has made a number of moves to give the Rays a new look for the upcoming season. One of those moves was hiring Cash back in early December.
"I'm excited about all the moves we've made, and I'm excited about the players I'm fortunate to come in here with," Cash told Topkin. "We don't feel like we've taken away from our club."
The former bullpen coach of the Cleveland Indians is referring to the number of trades and acquisitions the Rays have made this offseason, including the departures of Ben Zobrist, Wil Myers, Yunel Escobar, Matt Joyce, Joel Peralta, Ryan Hanigan, and others. Instead, he's excited about the acquisitions of John Jaso, Rene Rivera, Asdrubal Cabrera, Steven Souza Jr., Kevin Jepsen, Ernesto Frieri, Burch Smith, as well as other prospects.
Cash will enter his first season as a manager in 2015. The 37-year-old spent eight seasons as a catcher for a number of teams, served as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 and then spent 2013 and 2014 as bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians under manager Terry Francona.
