Garrett Cleavinger
#60 RP · Rays
Height
6'1"
Weight
225 lbs
Age
32
College
Oregon
Draft
2015, Rd 3, #102
Experience
6 yrs
Bats/Throws
R/L
A
A-
C+
N/A
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The Verdict on Garrett, in One Read
On the field, Garrett Cleavinger grades out as an excellent RP for Rays (A- Performance). That places him 80th of 389 graded relief pitchers. The money matches the play — the Contract Value Index lands at A, a clear bargain. The public read is mixed (C+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score.
Career StatsA-
| Year | Team | GP | ERA | W-L | K | WHIP | IP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 204 | 3.218861 | 14-17 | 238 | 1.2064058 | 0.0 | 9 |
| 2026 | | 14 | 3.65 | 1-1 | 17 | 1.46 | 12.1 | 1 |
| 2025 |
Current Contract
Length
1 year
Total Value
$2.4M
Guaranteed
$1.4M
AAV
$2.4M/yr
Guaranteed %60%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
A
Great Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Cleavinger's one-year, $2.4M deal earns an A CVI as the Rays secured a reliable high-leverage arm at an extremely reasonable price point for his proven production level. The 31-year-old left-hander has quietly developed into a legitimate late-inning weapon, earning his B+ performance grade through consistent effectiveness that caught the attention of both Team USA selectors and multiple trade suitors. At $2.4M AAV, Tampa Bay is paying well below market rate for a proven relief arm capable of closer committee duties, especially considering the premium teams typically pay for left-handed specialists who can handle high-leverage spots. As a six-year veteran entering his prime relief years, Cleavinger represents the perfect low-risk, high-reward acquisition — controllable salary with established production that makes him an attractive trade chip if the Rays decide to sell. The combination of his growing national recognition and team-friendly contract creates exceptional value for an organization known for maximizing every dollar. With just a one-year commitment, Tampa Bay faces zero long-term risk while gaining a proven arm who has transformed from overlooked depth piece to legitimately coveted relief asset.
Performance Analysis
A-
FCA+
Plate appearances and per-game impact line up to a A- performance grade for Garrett Cleavinger. The 32-year-old left-hander has quietly built himself into a reliable, high-leverage reliever whose results have consistently outpaced his reputation — a gap that becomes especially apparent when you stack his production against the broader relief market. His role in Tampa Bay's closer committee speaks to the Rays' confidence in him during critical situations, a trust that doesn't get extended lightly to a pitcher without marquee name recognition. The recent calf tightness that landed him on the IL injects uncertainty into what was otherwise a smooth trajectory, particularly given the team's aggressive bullpen reshaping over the past month with signings like Steven Matz and Aaron Brooks — moves that suggest Tampa Bay is managing its relief corps with real urgency heading into the stretch run. At six years of service and a third-round draft pedigree, Cleavinger has earned the credibility to be both a tradeable asset and a fixture in a Rays rotation that sits at 33-15 and riding a four-game winning streak; whether he returns to full health in time to reclaim that closer-committee slot before the deadline will largely determine whether his A- performance grade translates into the kind of media recognition and trade value his on-field work actually merits.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the A band — a quick read on where Garrett's contract sits relative to comparable money.
How Garrett Compares at the Position
Garrett Cleavinger ranks 80th of 389 graded relief pitchers by performance. That slots Garrett between JoJo Romero (A-) just ahead and Hoby Milner (A-) just behind.
Graded higher
JoJo RomeroCardinalsA-Nick DavilaMarinersA-Riley MartinCubsA-Garrett CleavingerA-
Graded lower
Hoby MilnerCubsRecent Games
| Date | OPP | Result | AB | H | R | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 6/14 | @ LAA | W 8-3 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
| Wed, 6/10 | vs BOS | W 7-5 | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | - |
Transaction History
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About this player
Garrett Cleavinger is a player in his 6th MLB season listed at RP for the Rays. FanVerdicts covers every MLB player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Garrett Cleavinger, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index A, Performance A-, Sentiment C+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when MLB game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the MLB hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The MLB player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.
