Tampa Bay Rays Acquire Outfielder Travis Jankowski From White Sox For Cash Considerations
Veteran outfielder joins Rays roster as team bolsters bench options for stretch run campaign.
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The Tampa Bay Rays have strengthened their outfield depth, announcing the acquisition of veteran outfielder Travis Jankowski from the Chicago White Sox. The Instagram post from the team’s official account reveals that Jankowski was obtained for cash considerations and has been immediately selected to the active roster.
The announcement, made on the Rays’ official Instagram account, was captioned “Added another set of wheels 🛞” – a nod to Jankowski’s reputation as a speedy baserunner. The image shows Jankowski in a Rays uniform, signaling his immediate integration into the team’s roster following the transaction.
Jankowski, known for his defensive versatility and speed on the basepaths, provides the Rays with an additional outfield option as they continue their 2025 campaign. The 33-year-old veteran offers valuable depth and experience to Tampa Bay’s roster.
Jankowski’s Career Path
Before joining the Rays, Jankowski has had a journeyman career in Major League Baseball. Originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the first round (44th overall) of the 2012 MLB Draft, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania native has played for multiple organizations including the Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and most recently the Chicago White Sox.
Jankowski’s calling cards throughout his career have been his defensive prowess and baserunning ability. While not known for power hitting, his speed and defensive versatility make him a valuable bench piece and late-game option for managers looking for a defensive replacement or pinch runner.
Rays’ Recent Activities
The Rays have been active both on and off the field in recent weeks. Their Instagram feed shows a team that’s been performing well, with recent posts celebrating victories. One post captioned “H-O-T T-O 1-0” highlighted recent success, while another post stated “The bats, too hot. The boys, too fast. 😮💨” – suggesting the team has been on an offensive tear.
The team has maintained a playful social media presence, posting content like “Find out Pete’s best spud in this hard-hitting expotato I mean exposé” – showing their engagement with fans extends beyond just game updates.
What’s Next For The Rays
With Jankowski now on the active roster, the Rays gain additional flexibility for late-game situations and defensive alignments. His speed could be particularly valuable in close games where a stolen base or defensive replacement could make a significant difference.
As the season progresses, the Rays will look to leverage their expanded roster depth to maintain competitiveness in the challenging American League East division, where they regularly face powerhouse teams with significantly larger payrolls.
The addition of Jankowski represents another example of the Rays’ approach to roster construction – finding specific skill sets that complement their existing talent pool while maintaining financial flexibility through cash-based transactions rather than trading away prospect capital.
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