The Mets released Poche on Aug. 2.
Poche made 14 appearances in the big leagues earlier this season with the Nationals and Mets before New York dropped him from its 40-man roster June 29. The lefty reliever elected free agency soon after and then re-signed with the Mets on a minor-league deal July 6, but he was unable to earn another call-up to the big leagues before New York elected to release him. Poche will look to catch on elsewhere on a minor-league pact before the end of the 2025 campaign.
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Colin Poche: Reaches free agency
Rotowire
Poche elected to become a free agent Tuesday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Poche cleared waivers after the Mets removed him from their 40-man roster, but he's decided to test out free agency rather than accept an outright assignment. The lefty reliever has been rocked for 14 runs (13 earned) over 9.1 innings between the Nationals and Mets in 2025.
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Mets' Colin Poche: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Mets designated Poche for assignment Sunday.
The left-hander had his contract selected from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, and he made his debut for the Mets on Saturday in Pittsburgh, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. Richard Lovelady signed a one-year contract to take Poche's place on the MLB roster.
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Nationals' Colin Poche: Joins active roster
Rotowire
The Nationals selected Poche's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Poche has given up four earned runs in just 4.2 innings during Grapefruit League play, but the Nationals will add him to their big-league bullpen anyway -- likely based on the 3.27 ERA and 1.13 WHIP he owns over the past three seasons. He'll likely start in a middle-relief role but could work his way into high-leverage opportunities given the overall lack of experience in Washington's bullpen.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Set for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Poche (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Poche's last documented activity was May 22, when he threw a 15-pitch bullpen session. He'll likely only need a couple of appearances in Durham before being activated.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Poche (back) threw on flat ground Sunday and is expected to throw a bullpen session Monday, MLB.com reports.
Poche had been shut down since hitting the injured list April 26, after receiving an injection in his back and resting for several days. He's projected to return in mid-May barring any setbacks, suggesting he may not need a rehab assignment.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Lands on IL with back injury
Rotowire
The Rays placed Poche on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to April 24, with mid-back tightness, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Poche was knocked around for three runs in his last appearance Tuesday and it's possible he might have been compromised physically in that outing. He will miss at least the next two weeks, depriving the Rays of another high-leverage reliever after they already lost Pete Fairbanks (arm).
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Rays' Colin Poche: Notches fourth win
Rotowire
Poche (4-1) earned the win in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cubs, allowing one hit over a scoreless inning.
It was a nice bounce-back effort from Poche after he allowed two runs on three hits in his last outing Saturday. The 29-year-old left-hander finishes May with a 2.89 ERA over 9.1 innings, holding opponents scoreless in nine out of his 11 appearances. Poche now sports a 2.29 ERA through 19.2 innings this season with a 1.37 WHIP, 12:9 K:BB, one save and seven holds. He could be in line for more high-leverage work while Pete Fairbanks (hip) is sidelined.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Loses arbitration case
Rotowire
Poche lost his arbitration case against the Rays on Saturday, meaning he'll make $1.175 million this season, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Poche had filed for $1.3 million. The southpaw saved seven games for the Rays last season despite posting a mediocre 3.99 ERA. Tampa Bay's typically fluid bullpen setup could see Poche earn another small handful of saves when opposing lefties are due up in the ninth inning, but he doesn't look like a candidate for a traditional closer role should the Rays go that route.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Placed on IL
Rotowire
Poche (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Poche sustained a right oblique strain Tuesday against the Red Sox and will miss the remainder of the season. Josh Fleming was recalled to take Poche's place on the active roster ahead of Wednesday's regular-season finale.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Picks up seventh save
Rotowire
Poche yielded a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Tigers, striking out one and earning his seventh save of the year.
Poche had two runners on base with two outs but he managed to strike out Riley Greene to preserve the 5-3 win. The 6-foot-3 southpaw picked up his first save since July 13 after blowing his previous two opportunities. He's now sporting a 3.00 ERA and a 35:14 K:BB through 39 appearances.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Struggles again
Rotowire
Poche (3-1) allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in the ninth inning to earn the win Wednesday against the Orioles.
Poche entered the game with a one-run lead but allowed a solo home run to Jorge Mateo to blow a save chance for the second consecutive day. He's struggled since late June, allowing nine earned runs across 11.2 innings and 13 appearances. Pete Fairbanks picked up the save in the 10th inning after the Rays retook the lead, further complicating the closer picture in Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Blows save chance, picks up win
Rotowire
Poche (1-0) was charged with a blown save but earned the win after allowing an unearned run on a hit and two walks while striking out one Wednesday against the Rangers.
Poche was asked to protect a one-run lead in the 10th inning, though that was quickly spoiled after he allowed a one-out single that brought home the designated runner from second base. He walked two of the next three batters he faced but escaped without any further damage. The Rays' closer situation remains ambiguous, but Poche would have three of the team's last four saves if he had converted Wednesday's opportunity successfully.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Converts second save
Rotowire
Poche threw a perfect ninth inning Saturday to earn the save in a 3-1 win over the Yankees.
Poche got Joey Gallo to pop up and then induced groundouts from DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge, escaping the inning in 13 pitches. After starting the year well, Poche has received and converted the Rays' last two save opportunities. He's posted a 1.20 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB while adding seven holds in 16 appearances spanning 15 innings. It's unclear if he'll continue to get ninth-inning looks over Brooks Raley, but Poche is firmly in the high-leverage mix.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Snags first save
Rotowire
Poche allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out one in the ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Marlins.
Poche was handed a two-run lead and was ultimately forced to get out of a bases-loaded jam to end the game. Neither of the hits he surrendered left the infield, and the defense committed two errors behind him. Nevertheless, Poche managed to record his first save of the season, which is particularly notable because Andrew Kittredge (back) is sidelined and Brooks Raley was not used in the game. Poche missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery but has returned to maintain a 1.29 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across 14 innings.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Poche was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
While Poche won't be on the team to start the year, the Rays will rotate through their relievers with options throughout the season, so he should get his chance before too long. The lefty has missed the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and had an unimpressive 4.70 ERA in his 51.2-inning debut back in 2019, though that came with a strong 34.8 percent strikeout rate.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Making third spring appearance
Rotowire
Poche is scheduled to appear in relief of starter Josh Fleming in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Healthy again after missing the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June 2020, Poche is vying for a spot in the Rays' Opening Day bullpen. He's looked sharp in his first two Grapefruit League appearances to date, striking out two over two scoreless frames while recording a save.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Received clearance in fall
Rotowire
Poche (elbow) said Saturday that he received clearance to resume pitching ahead of fall instructionals, and he expects to be a full participant when the MLB lockout ends and big leaugers report to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 28-year-old hasn't pitched in a competitive setting since the 2019 postseason after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in July 2020. The track record of pitchers returning from two reconstructive elbow injuries isn't a promising one, so the Rays could still look to limit his usage this spring out of an abundance of caution. When he was last healthy during his rookie season in the majors, Poche was one of the top strikeout artists among relievers, whiffing 34.8 percent of the batters he faced.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Won't pitch in 2021
Rotowire
Poche (elbow) won't pitch in 2021, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Poche has been on the 60-day injured list since mid-February as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in July of 2020. Manager Kevin Cash ruled the southpaw out for the season Thursday, and he'll now presumably shift his attention toward preparing for spring training in 2022.
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Rays' Colin Poche: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Poche (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Adam Berry of MLB..com reports.
The move was purely procedural, as Poche is expected out until at least early September after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late July 2020. Poche's transfer to the 60-day version of the IL makes room for offseason acquisition Rich Hill, whose signing was made official Wednesday, as well as that of the returning Oliver Drake (elbow), who also inked a deal.
