Injury Notes: McClanahan, Canning, Kemp
Rays fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of Shane McClanahan to the big-league mound. The talented left-hander missed the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery and a subsequent nerve issue in his triceps. However, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that McClanahan is on track to be ready for the 2026 campaign, with a potential workload cap in place. McClanahan's 2021 debut was solid, but he truly shone in the following season, becoming an AL Cy Young contender. In 2022, he made 28 starts with a 2.54 ERA and over a strikeout per inning. His performance against the Guardians in the Wild Card round was impressive, but he was outdueled by Shane Bieber. Despite potential innings limits, McClanahan's return to the rotation will be a significant boost for the depleted Rays staff, which currently includes Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot as the top starters. Shane Baz, who tied for the team lead with 31 starts last season, has now moved to Baltimore. The Rays have also lost Zack Littell and Adrian Houser to other organizations, and Taj Bradley was traded to Minnesota. Joe Boyle, Steven Matz, and Yoendrys Gomez are in the running to fill the rotation, with Littell potentially returning via free agency.
Griffin Canning, a free-agent right-hander, is also recovering from a major injury. He suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon with the Mets last season. Canning recently threw for interested teams, reaching 93 mph on the radar gun, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Cardinals, White Sox, and Mets have been mentioned as potential destinations for Canning. Before his injury, Canning was having a strong season, with a career-best 3.77 ERA through 16 starts after signing a modest one-year, $4.25MM deal with New York. He improved his slider and made adjustments to his changeup, regaining some of his strikeout ability.
On the position player front, utilityman Otto Kemp is set to be fully available for the upcoming season. Kemp fractured his kneecap shortly after his call-up last year but played through the injury. He underwent offseason surgery to address the issue and also had a shoulder cleanup procedure. Kemp is feeling 100% and ready to go, as he told NBC Sports Philadelphia. The 26-year-old made an impact in his first taste of the big leagues, hitting eight home runs in 62 games with a .411 SLG and a strikeout rate above 30%. Kemp is among the internal options to compete for platoon work in the outfield alongside Brandon Marsh.
