The Rays made a roster move Friday that sent right-hander Michael Grove into DFA limbo, opening a 40-man spot for Brody Hopkins after his contract was selected earlier in the day.
For Grove, it’s the latest turn in a stop-and-start run with Tampa Bay after a career that included a World Series ring with the Dodgers in 2024. The righty spent years in Los Angeles’ farm system and logged a 5.48 ERA across 149 1/3 innings for the big league club from 2022 through 2024. His postseason work ended early because of a shoulder problem that led to surgery in March 2025, keeping him out for more than a year.
That injury also shaped how Grove got to Tampa Bay in the first place. The Dodgers outrighted him last November, he chose minor league free agency, and it wasn’t until April that he landed with the Rays on a split contract.
His return to the mound came slowly. Grove didn’t begin pitching until a minor league rehab assignment started on May 23.
He made one appearance for the Rays, throwing three innings of relief on June 27, before being sent right back to Triple-A. Since then, he has bounced between levels, and in three outings for Tampa Bay he has allowed three home runs and posted a 5.14 ERA over seven innings.
The numbers in Durham have been better. Grove has worked 33 Triple-A innings this season with a 3.55 ERA, a 29.1% strikeout rate and a 9.5% walk rate.
That makes the next step interesting. The Rays didn’t appear to have much planned for him beyond spot duty, so this move could function like an early non-tender if it ends with Grove back in free agency.
Another club could still take a shot. A waiver claim is possible if a team wants the 29-year-old as rotation or bullpen depth.
If he clears waivers, Grove can refuse an outright assignment and choose free agency, since he has already been outrighted before. But because he has fewer than five years of MLB service time, he would have to walk away from the rest of his guaranteed money from the Rays if he does that.
Tampa Bay may be hoping he accepts the outright and stays in the organization instead.
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