Garrett Cleavinger - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Lands on IL with calf tightness The Rays placed Cleavinger on the 15-day injured list Friday with right calf tightness.

Impact Cleavinger has had a rough start to the season, posting a 7.71 ERA and 3:4 K:BB over 2.1 innings of work covering three appearances. If he is merely dealing with tightness and not a strain, he has a good chance to be activated when first eligible April 15.

2 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Headed for closer committee Cleavinger has given up one hit with one strikeout and no walks over two scoreless Grapefruit League appearances. He also struck out one in a scoreless frame for Team United States...

Impact Cleavinger's game work has been a bit light this spring while away from the Rays for the World Baseball Classic, but he should be ready for Opening Day all the same. The left-hander and Griffin Jax are poised to begin the season splitting closing duties, with Edwin Uceta set to join the mix once he recovers from a shoulder issue. Cleavinger was dominant while serving in a setup role last year, recording two saves and 22 holds with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 82:18 K:BB across 61.1 innings.

MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration with TB Cleavinger agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The left-hander will double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility after tallying two saves and 22 holds with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 81:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings last season. Cleavinger is expected to begin 2026 as part of Tampa Bay's closer committee, with Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta also in the mix.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Will be part of closer committee Cleavinger, Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays in 2026, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Rays elected to decline Pete Fairbanks' $11 million option, and the plan for now is to fill that ninth-inning vacancy with multiple players. Cleavinger had the best season of his career in 2025, holding a 2.35 ERA and 82:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings. The lefty has neutral splits, so he should not be at a matchups disadvantage when it comes to who manager Kevin Cash chooses to deploy in save situations.

DECEMBER 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Ushered in for save Cleavinger picked up the save Tuesday against Seattle, throwing a perfect inning with zero strikeouts.

Impact Griffin Jax began the ninth inning, but after yielding a pair of walks and a single to the first three batters he faced, Tampa Bay turned to Cleavinger with the bases loaded and no outs. Cleavinger did surrender a sacrifice fly, with the run being attributed to Jax, but didn't allow the Mariners to complete the comeback. Now with two saves on the season, Cleavinger has an impressive 1.75 ERA in 51.1 innings. He hasn't allowed a run in 18 straight innings.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Ushered in for save Cleavinger picked up the save Tuesday against Seattle, throwing a perfect inning with zero strikeouts.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Takes fourth loss Cleavinger (0-4) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the ninth inning to take the loss Saturday against the Twins.

Impact Cleavinger posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 10 innings in June and began July with two scoreless outings. He didn't have his best stuff Saturday, however, as he allowed a walk and two singles -- the latter of which was a bunt -- to allow a walk-off win for the Twins.

JULY 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Takes fourth loss Cleavinger (0-4) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk without recording an out in the ninth inning to take the loss Saturday against the Twins.

JULY 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Rare misstep Cleavinger (0-1) allowed one earned run on one hit while striking out two across 0.2 innings to take the loss Friday against the Astros.

Impact Cleavinger has been one of the Rays' most reliable high-leverage relievers this season, and he's maintained an impressive 27:4 K:BB across 21.1 frames while turning in a scoreless effort in 17 of 23 appearances. He stumbled Friday, however, allowing a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning after striking out the first two batters he faced to take his first loss of the campaign.

MAY 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Slams door for first save Cleavinger picked up the save Friday against the Padres after tossing a clean ninth inning. He struck out two.

Impact With closer Pete Fairbanks having worked each of the past two days, Cleavinger was called upon to slam the door and protect a 1-0 lead. The left-hander earned his first save of the year after throwing seven of his 10 pitches for strikes, and he now sports a 2.53 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings. Cleavinger is one of Tampa Bay's top left-handed relievers, but his save opportunities are likely to remain scarce while Fairbanks is healthy.

APRIL 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Avoids arbitration The Rays and Cleavinger avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Impact Cleavinger gets a well-earned raise after putting up a 3.75 ERA and 71:31 K:BB over 60 innings in his first year back from knee surgery. The left-handed reliever will be in line for high-leverage work again with the Rays in 2025.

JANUARY 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Notches save Thursday Cleavinger earned a save against the Red Sox on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.

Impact Cleavinger threw 15 of 19 pitches for strikes and recorded multiple punchouts for the first time since Aug. 14. The save was his second of September and his sixth overall this season. The last three Rays saves have been claimed by three different relievers, so it's clear that the team prefers a committee approach to the closer role.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs fifth save Cleavinger earned the save in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Twins, retiring the lone batter he faced in the ninth inning.

Impact Edwin Uceta originally got the call in the ninth inning, but he allowed a pair of singles to put the tying and go-ahead runs aboard. Cleavinger was then called upon with two outs to face Christian Vasquez, who he'd retire on just two pitches. It's the fifth save this year for Cleavinger, who had allowed five runs over his last three appearances (2.2 innings) coming into Tuesday. While Uceta and Manuel Rodriguez have been the Rays' top ninth-inning options in the absence of Pete Fairbanks (lat), the left-handed Cleavinger could see the occasional matchup-dependant save opportunity going forward.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Notches extra-inning save Cleavinger picked up the save in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Dodgers, surrendering one unearned run over one inning while not allowing any hits or walks.

Impact Cleavinger got the call with a two-run lead in the bottom of the 10th and retired Shohei Ohtani in the first at-bat via fly out, though Josh Rojas was able to advance to third after tagging up. The left-handed reliever would then see Rojas come home on a sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts before getting Freddie Freeman to ground out for the final out of the contest. It marked Cleavinger's fourth save of the campaign and his first since May 18 against Toronto. He still appears to be third in line for save opportunities with Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list due to a lat strain, behind Manuel Rodriguez, who got the win Saturday, and Edwin Uceta.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Notches extra-inning save Cleavinger picked up the save in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Dodgers, surrendering one unearned run over one inning while not allowing any hits or walks.

Impact Cleavinger got the call with a two-run lead in the bottom of the 10th and retired Shohei Ohtani in the first at-bat via a flyout, though Miguel Rojas was able to advance to third after tagging up. The left-handed reliever would then see Rojas come home on a sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts before getting Freddie Freeman to ground out for the final out of the contest. It marked Cleavinger's fourth save of the campaign and his first since May 18 against Toronto. He still appears to be third in line for save opportunities with Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list due to a lat strain, behind Manuel Rodriguez, who got the win Saturday, and Edwin Uceta.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up seventh win Cleavinger (7-2) struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win Sunday against the Reds.

Impact Cleavinger entered with the Rays down 1-0 in the eighth inning and turned in his fifth consecutive clean outing. He's also picked up two wins in that span and should be locked into a high-leverage relief role after the departure of Jason Adam.

JULY 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Records first career save Cleavinger threw a scoreless 10th inning with one strikeout against the Yankees on Saturday to earn his first career save.

Impact After Jason Adam pitched a clean ninth to preserve a scoreless tie, Tampa Bay scored the game's only runs in the top of the 10th to create the save chance. It was the left-handed Cleavinger who got the call with Pete Fairbanks unavailable due to a stomach illness, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, and Cleavinger shut the door on 17 pitches (12 strikes). While Cleavinger battles fits of wildness, he also misses bats and may continue to see the occasional matchups-based opportunity with Fairbanks struggling in the ninth to begin the season. The 29-year-old Cleavinger already has three wins this season to go along with Saturday's save.

APRIL 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Should be healthy for spring Cleavinger, who underwent surgery May 17 to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee, is expected to be fully healthy in advance of spring training, MLB.com reports.

Impact After injuring his knee in a May 7 relief appearance, Cleavinger was diagnosed with a torn ACL a day later, but he wasn't revealed to have suffered any meniscus damage at that time. He ultimately required a surgical fix for both knee issues, but his recovery timeline shouldn't be affected in any dramatic way. If back to 100 percent next spring training as anticipated, Cleavinger will be vying for a high-leverage role in the Tampa Bay bullpen.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Transferred to 60-day IL Cleavinger was transferred to the 60-day injured list by the Rays on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for waiver claim Zack Littell. Cleavinger is likely done for the season after tearing his right ACL last weekend.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Diagnosed with torn ACL Cleavinger is likely done for the season after being diagnosed with a torn right ACL, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cleavinger hurt his knee when he collided with the Yankees' Aaron Hicks during Sunday's game and an MRI has evidently revealed a worst-case scenario. It's a bummer for Cleavinger and a blow to the Rays' bullpen, as the left-handed boasts a 2.64 ERA and 39:10 K:BB over 30.2 innings since joining Tampa Bay's relief corps last season.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on IL Cleavinger was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Rays on Monday with a right knee sprain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The severity of the sprain isn't clear, but the injury will cost Cleavinger at least a couple weeks of action. He was hurt during Sunday's game versus the Yankees when he tripped over Aaron Hicks' leg during a rundown. Trevor Kelley is taking Cleavinger's spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to IL with knee injury Cleavinger is likely headed to the injured list after being removed from Sunday's appearance versus the Yankees due to a right knee injury, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times re...

Impact Cleavinger hurt himself when he tripped over Aaron Hicks' leg while trying to tag him during a rundown in the 10th inning. Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the contest that he didn't have an update on the reliever's condition other than it would "likely" result in a trip to the IL. Cleavinger holds a 3.00 ERA and 14:6 K:BB over 12 innings this season.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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