Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta is being suspended for three games and fined for intentionally hitting Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos in the eighth inning of the game on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Uceta has the right to appeal MLB's ruling, which would allow him to continue pitching until the appeal is heard. Manager Kevin Cash was also suspended for the contest in Philly on Wednesday. If the 26-year-old Uceta accepts the ban, he'll miss the next three games and won't be eligible to pitch again for the Rays until Saturday in Cleveland against the Guardians. In his first year with the Rays in 2024, Uceta has gone 2-0 with a tidy 1.49 ERA, a 0.79 WHIP, his first two career saves, a career-high 51 strikeouts and only six walks in 36 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

The Detroit Tigers have claimed right-handed pitcher Edwin Uceta off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks, per a tweet from the American League Central club's public relations Twitter account. Uceta, 24, has appeared in 24 games at the Major League level in the last two seasons, throwing a total of 37.1 innings. Last year in 17 innings for the Diamondbacks, the right-hander pitched to a 5.82 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 10 appearances, striking out 13 batters compared to seven walks in the process. He turned in a 4.86 ERA, a 5.50 FIP, 70 strikeouts, and 30 walks in 50 Triple-A innings last year. The reliever will give the Tigers some additional bullpen depth heading into the 2023 season.

The Arizona Diamondbacks designated right-hander Edwin Uceta for assignment on Thursday to make room on the 40-man roster for veteran third baseman Evan Longoria, whose one-year, $4 million deal became official. Uceta posted a 5.82 ERA (4.52 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, 13 strikeouts and seven walks in 17 relief innings for the D-backs in 2022 in his second major-league season. He spent most of his time toiling in the minors with Triple-A Reno, where he had a 4.86 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 70 strikeouts and 30 walks in 50 innings pitched over 28 appearances (five starts). Uceta will likely go unclaimed on waivers and will then be free to sign with any MLB team for the upcoming 2023 campaign.