The Tampa Bay Rays have made another move to address their struggling bullpen, acquiring veteran reliever Casey Legumina from the Seattle Mariners after he was designated for assignment. The addition comes as Tampa Bay searches for answers in what has been one of the weakest relief units in Major League Baseball during the 2026 season.
Through the early portion of the year, the Rays’ bullpen has posted disappointing numbers, ranking near the bottom of the league in effectiveness. Entering the day, only the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros owned worse bullpen ERAs than Tampa Bay. The Rays’ relief corps currently carries a 5.64 ERA, a figure that has become a growing concern for a team hoping to remain competitive and make a meaningful postseason push.
While Tampa Bay’s starting rotation has delivered average production overall, the bullpen’s inability to protect leads and keep games manageable has put significant pressure on the rest of the roster. Recognizing the need for reinforcements, the Rays’ front office moved quickly to bring in additional relief depth by trading for Legumina.
The 29-year-old right-hander began his professional career when he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Gonzaga University. Legumina’s path to professional baseball was not immediate, as he had previously been drafted twice before—in 2016 and 2018—but chose to return to school both times in hopes of improving his draft stock. That decision paid off, as his 2019 selection represented the highest draft position of his career.
Legumina impressed during his final collegiate season at Gonzaga, posting dominant numbers that elevated his prospect profile. In 24 innings during his senior campaign, he recorded a 2-0 record with a stellar 1.50 ERA, showcasing the command and swing-and-miss ability that made him an appealing draft target.
However, his professional development was uneven during his time in the Twins’ farm system. Though he flashed potential, inconsistency limited his rise and eventually led Minnesota to trade him to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for infielder Kyle Farmer.
Legumina made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2023, appearing in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies. He delivered an encouraging first outing by throwing two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three batters. Despite that promising debut, sustained success at the major league level has remained elusive.
Since debuting, Legumina has yet to produce a season with positive WAR, and his performance has fluctuated across multiple organizations. Before the 2025 season, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners, where he hoped to establish himself as a reliable bullpen option. Instead, his struggles continued. In 2025, Legumina posted a 5.62 ERA over a career-high 49.2 innings before Seattle ultimately designated him for assignment.
Even with those struggles, the Rays see value in taking a chance on his arm, particularly given the team’s growing injury issues in the bullpen. Mason Englert is currently on the injured list with right forearm tightness, while standout closer Edwin Uceta recently suffered a setback in his recovery that is expected to keep him sidelined longer than anticipated.
With injuries piling up and bullpen performance lagging, Tampa Bay is betting that a change of scenery could help Legumina unlock more consistency. The Rays have built a reputation for maximizing under-the-radar pitching talent, and the organization will hope he can become another reclamation success story.
At minimum, Legumina provides valuable depth for a bullpen in need of immediate help. If Tampa Bay can help him refine his arsenal and regain confidence, he may emerge as a useful contributor in the months ahead.
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