Jacob Brentz: Everything you need to know

The Rays released Brentz on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The Rays took a flier on Brentz in the offseason after he finished 2024 with a 12.62 ERA and 2.67 WHIP over 30.2 total innings between the Royals' Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. He didn't show many signs of improvement in the Grapefruit League, giving up three earned runs in 4.1 frames alongside a 3:7 K:BB. Rather than attempting to get him back on track in the minors, the Rays will simply send the 30-year-old reliever back into the open market.

The Rays signed Brentz to a minor-league contract Dec. 7. Brentz hasn't been the same since coming back from Tommy John surgery, most recently posting an 11.40 ERA while walking 52 over 30 innings between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization. The lefty did show promise in his rookie season back in 2021 and the Rays will try to coax that back out of him.

Brentz cleared waivers and was assigned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Friday. Brentz was dropped from the Royals' 40-man roster Monday, and after going unclaimed, will stick in the organization at Double-A. The 29-year-old has surrendered 29 earned runs over 17.2 combined innings across Double-A and Triple-A this season.