The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired utility infielder Brett Wisely and left-hander Ken Waldichuk from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. The trade, completed on Monday, adds depth to the Rays' infield and pitching staff while bringing back a former Rays prospect. To accommodate the additions, the Rays designated Osvaldo Bido and Tsung-Che Cheng for assignment.
The trade bolsters the Rays' roster ahead of Spring Training, which begins in about a month. Brett Wisely, 26, was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 15th round of the 2019 Draft out of Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. He had strong performances in the Rays' system, including a stint as Double-A Montgomery's MVP, before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in November 2022 for outfielder Tristan Peters.
Wisely made his MLB debut with the Giants in 2023 and spent time between San Francisco and Triple-A Sacramento over the next three years. He was claimed off waivers by the Braves in September but was designated for assignment last week to make room for George Soriano. Out of Minor League options, Wisely brings versatility to the Rays, having played second base in 107 games, shortstop in 39, third base in seven, first base in one, center field in 19, and left field in one across 168 Major League games. His career slash line stands at .214/.265/.319 with 0.6 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball-Reference.
This move addresses Tampa Bay's needs at second base, their biggest position-player question mark, and provides a potential backup at shortstop alongside Taylor Walls and prospect Carson Williams. Tsung-Che Cheng, recently claimed from the Pittsburgh Pirates last Thursday, was among those designated for assignment and could still compete if he clears waivers.
Ken Waldichuk, 28, adds left-handed pitching depth. Once a Top 100 Prospect per MLB Pipeline, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics in 2022-23 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, returning to the mound in June. His 2024 Minor League stats showed rust with an 8.17 ERA and 1.96 WHIP over 54 innings in 17 outings, including 16 starts, striking out 68 while walking 42. The Braves had designated him for assignment on Saturday after re-signing Tyler Kinley, following his earlier DFA by the Athletics this offseason. With options remaining, Waldichuk could refine his skills in Triple-A while bolstering a Rays rotation that may feature Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, and Steven Matz, among others. The Rays currently have limited lefty relievers in Garrett Cleavinger and Joe Rock.
