Richie Palacios Fantasy Stats

Tampa Bay Rays utility man Richie Palacios has made the team's 2026 Opening Day roster, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin reports that Palacios will replace second baseman/outfielder Gavin Lux (shoulder), who will start the year on the Injured List with a right shoulder impingement. The 28-year-old Palacios logged just 48 MLB plate appearances in 2025 but performed well, hitting .333/.396/.451 with one home run, three RBI, 10 runs scored, and four stolen bases. In a more representative sample size of playing time in 2024, Palacios slashed .223/.346/.318 with five home runs, 21 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases across 319 plate appearances. His ability to line up nearly anywhere on the diamond gives him a chance at regular playing time. When in the lineup, he could be a sneaky source of speed for fantasy managers. With Lux sidelined, Palacios could land on the big side of a platoon at second base with Rays infielder Ben Williamson.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Richie Palacios (back) is returning to the lineup ahead of Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox. Palacios appears ready to play after missing over a week of action due to back tightness. He has been off to an ugly 2-for-15 start at the plate during Spring Training. He's hopeful to turn that around and earn a utility/bench role on the Rays' 26-man roster to begin the season. The 28-year-old posted solid numbers during a 13-game sample size with the Rays last season. He slashed .223/.346/.318 with five home runs, 21 RBI, and 19 steals in 92 games with Tampa Bay in 2024. He could offer some deep league value if he's able to make the big league team.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Richie Palacios will see reps at third base during spring training, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Palacios has mostly played the outfield in the major leagues, but he's also seen time at second base. The 28-year-old should be the backup option behind Gavin Lux at the keystone in 2026, but he'll increase his versatility in camp this year by getting some experience at the hot corner. Palacios, a former third-rounder by the Cleveland Guardians in 2018 out of Towson University, missed most of the 2025 campaign (17 games played) due to a broken right ring finger and a sprained knee. The Rays are willing to give him more playing time to see what he can do after he hit .223/.346/.318 with a .664 OPS, five home runs, 21 RBI, 46 runs, and 19 steals in 92 games in 2024. Palacios has plenty of plate discipline and speed, so if he's playing regularly, he could be a nice late-round sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues in 2026.

Per the team, the Tampa Bay Rays have transferred outfielder Richie Palacios (knee) to the 60-day injured list. It's nothing more than a procedural move for Tampa Bay, which clears a spot on the 40-man roster for newly acquired right-handed pitcher Bryan Baker. Palacios was recently pulled off his minor-league rehab assignment while dealing with intermittent soreness in his sprained right knee, but has since resumed baseball activities and will hopefully be ready to start another rehab stint following the All-Star break. The 28-year-old has taken just four at-bats for the Rays in 2025 since picking up the injury in mid-April, and is currently still set for a Jul. 24 return.