The Mariners acquired Wilcox from the Rays on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Wilcox had been designated for assignment by the Rays earlier this week and will now join a new 40-man roster. The 26-year-old spent most of the 2025 season at Triple-A Durham, holding a 3.71 ERA and 57:24 K:BB over 51 innings. It was his first year as a full-time reliever, and Wilcox is likely to begin the 2026 campaign in the bullpen at Triple-A Tacoma.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: No longer on 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays designated Wilcox for assignment Monday.
Wilcox made his major-league debut this season with the Rays, getting roughed up for seven runs (three earned) over one inning in his lone appearance. The 26-year-old will go through the waivers process and could remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Optioned after big-league debut
Rotowire
Wilcox was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 26-year-old righty made his big-league debut Friday, giving up seven runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks in one inning against the Red Sox. Wilcox has a 3.71 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 57:27 K:BB in 51 innings as a multi-inning reliever at Triple-A.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Rays selected Wilcox's contract from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Wilcox was shifted to the bullpen this season in the minors and has collected a 3.70 ERA and 63:27 K:BB over 58.1 innings between Double-A Montgomery and Durham. He will be making his major-league debut when/if he gets into a game.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Missing bats at Double-A
Rotowire
Wilcox has a 3.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 15.2 innings over his last three starts for Double-A Montgomery.
He had a shaky stretch from April 28 through June 15 in which he had a 7.28 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over nine starts, but Wilcox has gotten back on track lately. The 6-foot-5 righty, who turned 24 on Friday, has built up to a career-high 66 innings after missing parts of 2021 and 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. In addition to bat-missing stuff in his mid-90s fastball and hard-biting slider, Wilcox excels at generating weak contact (55 percent groundball rate).
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Excelling at Double-A
Rotowire
Wilcox has a 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB in 12 innings through three starts for Double-A Montgomery.
The 23-year-old righty skipped over High-A completely, as he pitched in rookie ball and at Single-A after returning last season from September 2021 Tommy John surgery. Wilcox has been dominant in his first exposure to upper-level hitting, as his 28.3 K-BB% is in line with his figures from the lower levels. He will need to be added to the 40-man roster in December, and it's looking like he could be big-league ready sooner than expected.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Rejoins Single-A affiliate
Rotowire
Single-A Charleston reinstated Wilcox (elbow) from its 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Wilcox has been cleared to join Charleston for the first time in 2022 after recently wrapping up a three-appearance rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The right-hander had been on the shelf all season while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he required last September.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Kicks off rehab assignment
Rotowire
Wilcox (elbow) began a rehab assignment Monday with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate and struck out two while allowing one hit and one walk in a scoreless inning.
Wilcox faced five batters in his 2022 debut and in his first outing since undergoing Tommy John surgery last September. Given that pitchers typically require at least a 12-month recovery from the procedure, Wilcox wasn't expected to take the mound in 2022, but he evidently recovered at a faster rate than the Rays anticipated. He's still likely to require several outings in the FCL before reporting to Single-A Charleston, where he finished the 2021 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Wilcox underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wilcox, who joined the Rays over the winter in the Blake Snell trade, cruised to a 2.03 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 10 starts for Low-A Charleston to begin the season, striking out 52 batters while walking just five. He hasn't pitched since late June due to an elbow strain. Tommy John surgery typically carries a recovery time of more than 12 months, so it's likely he doesn't pitch again until 2023, though some fall or winter action next season is possible if he's on the shorter end of the timeline.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Out with elbow strain
Rotowire
Wilcox has been sidelined since June 27 with an elbow strain, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports.
Given the nature of the injury, it seems highly unlikely we see Wilcox pitching in games again this year. If he can avoid surgery, he could be ready for spring training in 2022. It's a shame, because Wilcox got off to an excellent start to his pro career, logging a 2.03 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 44.1 innings (10 starts) with Low-A Charleston. He turned 22 in July, so he will be a bit behind schedule when he does return to game action.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: Out with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Wilcox is on the injured list at Low-A Charleston with an undisclosed injury.
He was excellent through 10 starts, logging a 2.03 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. Wilcox was pulled after 2.1 perfect innings with five strikeouts on June 27, so he may have suffered an arm injury during that start.
