"Lavender never got a shot with Tampa Bay. The former 14th-round pick had undergone internal brace surgery in May 2024. The Rays took a flier on him in the Rule 5 draft halfway through his rehab. They hoped he'd make it back in the second half of the '25 season and battle for a spot in the big league bullpen. It didn't happen, as it appears he suffered some kind of setback."
"Rule 5 draftees need to spend their entire first season in the new organization on the MLB roster or injured list. Lavender met that criterion, but they also need to spend at least 90 days on the active roster in total. If that doesn't happen in year one because of injury or suspension, the player's Rule 5 status carries into the winter and following season."
Nate Lavender was returned to the Mets after going unclaimed on waivers, rejoining New York's organization without occupying a 40-man roster spot. He did not pitch for Tampa Bay after undergoing internal brace surgery in May 2024; the Rays selected him in the Rule 5 draft during his rehab but he experienced a setback and did not appear at any level in 2024. Lavender qualified for the major-league injured list and thus earned a year of service time and the $760,000 league minimum. The 25-year-old lefty struck out nearly 37% of batters with a 2.98 ERA across two minor-league levels in 2023 and, if healthy, could receive a non-roster Spring Training invite or push for a midseason promotion from Triple-A Syracuse.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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