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Steve Cishek latest bullpen upgrade for Rays, who now must translate that to wins

 
Reliever Steve Cishek has a 3.15 ERA in 20 games after recovering from offseason hip surgery and a 1.86 ERA since a rocky second outing of the season.
Reliever Steve Cishek has a 3.15 ERA in 20 games after recovering from offseason hip surgery and a 1.86 ERA since a rocky second outing of the season.
Published July 29, 2017

NEW YORK — The Rays made another addition to change the look of their bullpen Friday in acquiring veteran side-armer and former closer Steve Cishek from Seattle.

Now the question — after three trades in two days, following three in the previous five weeks, with the potential for more action before Monday's deadline — is how much better have they made themselves overall.

"I can't quantify that," manager Kevin Cash said before Friday's 6-1 loss to the wild-card-leading Yankees. "We're excited about where we're at. In theory, we feel a lot better about where we're at. But we've got to now piece it together, get together as a club with some of these new additions and go win."

In reality, Cash is right on both counts.

They have definitely obtained more proven and experienced players, specifically in the bullpen with the acquisitions of Sergio Romo, lefty Dan Jennings and Cishek. Plus they added Lucas Duda as their primary DH, Adeiny Hechavarria as the starting shortstop and Trevor Plouffe to the bench.

But what matters most is how they perform — back-to-back losses to the Yankees not the best endorsement for the deals.

"I think they're great additions, but I just keep saying we have to go out and win," veteran third baseman Evan Longoria said. "That's the bottom line. We have what we felt was a great team before, and now we've addressed some of the issues that we've been talking about. Now it's about going out and performing and winning.

"I feel like we're as confident as ever in here in the guys that we have, and now we just have to go out there and put it together."

Duda debuted playing first base Friday, with Logan Morrison hobbling on a sore left heel, but was acquired to add his left-handed power — which he showed with a seventh-inning homer — to the lineup primarily at DH. That's a role he didn't have much experience with playing his whole career with the Mets, but he said he will embrace it with the chance to be in a race.

"Looking forward to it," he said. "Wherever they need me, whenever my number is called, I'll be ready. I'm excited."

But the bigger upgrade has been to the bullpen. They now have a more experienced crew but with different strengths and styles in front of Alex Colome.

"Time will certainly tell how much better we are, but I like the idea of picking up the phone and being very comfortable with the five or six names that you're going to call from the middle innings of the game on," pitching coach Jim Hickey said.

"That's a feeling that we haven't had all year long, really. If it translates into wins, that's a story for another day. But I think it gives us a better chance."

Cishek will be used primarily against right-handers, as will Romo, in situations that arise from the sixth inning on. Jennings can handle the toughest lefty hitters they see. Tommy Hunter will bring the heat. Brad Boxberger has the changeup that, when he has command, can gives lefties fits as well.

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"A little funk is always good," Hickey said. "We can run five or six different looks out there and it should be pretty advantageous."

So should the experience, as Romo and Cishek are both former closers with 30-save seasons on their resumes, as do Colome and Boxberger. Plus Hunter has had some closing time.

"We have a bunch of guys down there that have closed out ballgames," Cash said. "… My thought is it will work more as a positive. Everybody wants to be a closer, but at the same time I think everybody understands we've got to get ultimate buy-in here to find ways to win games."

He may need a similar sales pitch among the position players, especially in finding playing time for both Tim Beckham and Brad Miller, unless one is dealt.

To get Cishek to boost their late-inning options, the Rays gave up their primary middle reliever in Erasmo Ramirez. Cishek, 31, had a 3.15 ERA and .183 opponents average in 23 games for the Mariners this season after returning in mid May from October hip surgery, with a 1.86 ERA since a rocky second outing.

Ramirez, acquired from Seattle in March 2015, was used in many roles, but his inconsistency this season was an issue.

Though Cishek — a free agent to be — makes nearly double what Ramirez did, $6 million to $3.215 million, the Rays are getting about $1 million from the Mariners to make the deal even, and the trade to their benefit.

"The pen needed an overhaul; whether this is enough to carry us to October, we will see," principal owner Stuart Sternberg said. "It will be fun taking the ride."

Marc Topkin can be reached at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.