Reliever Craig Kimbrel opts for free agency after clearing waivers

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Aug 6, 2026

Published in Baseball

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SEATTLE — With versatile infielder Ben Williamson likely headed to the injured list on Friday and expected to be replaced by Carson Williams, the roster status of a few other Rays was clarified Thursday.

Veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, who was designated for assignment Monday to clear space on the 40-man roster for trade acquisitions, cleared waivers and elected free agency.

Kimbrel, 38 and in his 17th major league season, signed and debuted with the Rays on May 26 before spending 15 days on the injured list due to a right wrist strain. He made 19 appearances in all, posting a 3.86 ERA, though working mostly in low-leverage situations. Having started the season with the Mets, he now will seek another opportunity elsewhere.

Reliever Steven Wilson, acquired in an offseason trade from the White Sox, was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and designated for assignment. Had the Rays kept him, they would have had to take someone else off their 40-man roster.

Wilson, 31, was sidelined in spring training with a back issue, then further set back due to appendicitis and did not pitch in the majors this season. The Rays got Wilson and pitcher Yoendrys Gomez in exchange for infielder/outfielder Tanner Murray and outfielder Everson Pereira.

Rookie reliever Chase Solesky, a 28-year-old right-hander who made his first, and so far only, big-league appearance on May 18, was claimed off waivers by the Reds. Solesky was DFA’d on Monday to make room for the trade additions.

Williamson sustained a right hamstring injury late in Wednesday’s game in Colorado and was to undergo imaging and evaluation Thursday. Shortly after Williamson left the Rays’ game, Williams was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fourth inning of Triple-A Durham’s game. He was not in the Bulls lineup Thursday.

Rasmussen on the mound

Washington state native Drew Rasmussen will be filled with emotions when he takes the mound Friday at T-Mobile Park.

In part because he grew up going to Mariners games and has enjoyed the opportunity to pitch in front of family and friends, of which there will be at least 50. That’s evidenced by his 1-0 record and 0.61 ERA in four previous games there.

“It’s really cool to have the opportunity to go back home, do the thing I love in front of friends, family, and just have the opportunity for people who don’t usually get the the chance to come see me play, get to do it in person live,” he said.

He will experience other emotions because of the wildfires affecting the Spokane area, where he went to high school and has plenty of ties.

“What’s going on back home is, I mean, it truly is sad,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a time in which they’ve gotten so close to such a big residential area, and just to see the destruction, it’s truly heartbreaking.”

Rasmussen said some friends have been directly impacted, and he and his wife, Stevie, are exploring ways they can help.

Miscellany

The Seattle trip is also a homecoming for reliever Cam Booser, who overcame a series of personal and physical challenges to get to the majors in 2024 with Boston. Since being called up by the Rays in June, he has been a key part of their bullpen, with a 1.85 ERA over 23 games. ... There will be a lot of familiar faces around the stadium this weekend as the Mariners celebrate their 50-year history. They will have an alumni home run derby after Friday’s game and then honor what they’ve determined to be the 50 “Greatest Mariners Players” prior to Saturday’s game.