The Rays will activate reliever Manuel Rodríguez from the 60-day injured list this weekend, president of baseball operations Erik Neander tells Tom Krasniqi of 95.7 FM. Tampa Bay will need to open space on the active and 40-man rosters.

Rodríguez makes his return from last July’s elbow surgery. The Mexican-born righty had emerged as a key setup man for Kevin Cash in 2025. Rodríguez combined for 68 innings of 2.12 ERA ball, collecting 21 holds with only one blown lead over his first two seasons in Tampa Bay. He had modest swing-and-miss numbers but got big grounder rates behind his slider and a 97 mph sinker.

The Rays have had a league average bullpen since the All-Star Break. They’re middle third in ERA and strikeout rate. Bryan Baker has remained a lockdown closer and Kevin Kelly is continuing his breakout season. The Rays added Tyler Wells to the late innings and have a high-octane lefty in Garrett Cleavinger. Their lower-leverage relief corps has been shakier, so Rodríguez should deepen the group in the middle innings.