Rays reunite with former All-Star to help injury-riddled starting rotation

After being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft, Odorizzi was traded to the Kansas City Royals in December 2010 as part of a blockbuster six-player deal. Odorizzi, two-time All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain, one-time All-Star shortstop Alcides Escobar and one-time All-Star reliever Jeremy Jeffress were sent to Kansas City in exchange for infielder Yuniesky Betancourt and 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.

Odorizzi made just two starts with the Royals in 2012 before being traded to Tampa Bay in December that year, where he would remain through the 2017 season. He went 40-37 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 639 strikeouts in 698 innings pitched over 127 games (124 starts) with the Rays.

The 33-year-old was traded for the third time in February 2018, joining the Minnesota Twins. Odorizzi had the best season of his career in 2019, finishing 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 178 strikeouts over 159 innings pitched covering 30 starts and earning his lone All-Star appearance in the process.

The former No. 32 overall pick left the Twins after the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and spent 2021 with the Houston Astros. Odorizzi was traded yet again in August 2022, this time to the Atlanta Braves, and then was sent packing in November 2022 and joined the Texas Rangers.

He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder last spring and missed the entire 2023 season.

Odorizzi could immediately help the Rays in their rotation, as they're dealing with a load of injuries in the starting five.