Tampa Bay Rays News

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Chandler Simpson • CF • Rays

Can Chandler Simpson's Speed Continue to Carry his Profile?

Tampa Bay Rays speedy outfielder Chandler Simpson made his major-league debut in 2025 and didn't disappoint with his wheels, stealing 44 bases in 109 games. Simpson also hit an impressive .295 (122-for-414), but outside of his speed and high average, there was a lot to pick apart. The 25-year-old former second-rounder was caught stealing a league-high 12 times, had zero home runs, and only drove in 26 runs while hitting at the bottom of the batting order. Simpson's lack of power is a major drawback, and his subpar defense puts him at risk of losing playing time if he's not hitting and getting on base regularly. On the plus side, Simpson hit over .300 against both fastballs and breaking pitches in his first year in the big leagues. If you draft Simpson specifically for his speed, you'll need to get your power elsewhere. Heading into his sophomore season, RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 39 fantasy outfielder.

16 hours ago

Cam Booser • RP • Rays

Rays Sign Cam Booser to Minor-League Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed free-agent relief pitcher Cam Booser to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Booser took a significant step backward during the 2025 season. In 2024, Booser registered a 3.38 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 43/16 K/BB ratio across 43 games with the Boston Red Sox. The 33-year-old headed to the Chicago White Sox last season and completely fell apart. Booser finished with a 5.52 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and a 35/19 K/BB ratio in 39 games with the South Siders. The biggest problem was the home run ball, as Booser allowed eight long balls in 31.0 innings of work last season. It's a low-risk move by the Rays, who do have a good history of turning around players coming off down seasons. He'll likely serve as middle relief with little to no fantasy value, assuming he makes the team.

18 hours ago

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero a Top Fantasy Option After Breakout Campaign

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero enjoyed a massive breakout campaign in 2025, and he should remain a top fantasy option at third base in 2026. Caminero occupied an everyday role at the hot corner last year, and he delivered enormous contributions with the bat in his hands. Across 154 games, he slashed .264/.311/.535 with 45 homers, 110 RBI, and 129 wRC+. He cut down his strikeout rate to a career-low 19.1%, which is an acceptable rate for a power hitter of Caminero's caliber. He finished the year with 22.5 fWAR at the plate and -0.4 fWAR in the field. His defense wasn't spectacular, but he played well enough that the Rays are able to justify playing him every day to get his terrific bat in the lineup. As it stands, he's the #2 third baseman in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball draft rankings, trailing only Jose Ramirez at the position.

21 hours ago

Jacob Melton • LF • Rays

Jacob Melton Primed for Large Role in Tampa Bay?

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton could take on a large role in his debut season with the Rays. Melton was shipped to Tampa Bay in a three-team trade this offseason from the Houston Astros. Melton made his MLB debut last season and appeared in only 32 contests with the Astros. During this brief taste, the outfielder posted a .157/.234/.186, with an impressive seven stolen bases. Through 82 career games at Triple-A, the former second-round selection has held a .271/.347/.468 line with an .815 OPS. During this stretch, Melton has hit 11 home runs and stolen 23 bases. With Josh Lowe being shipped to the Angels earlier in the offseason as well, Melton will face even less competition for a prominent role in Tampa Bay. Given his speed upside, he is worth monitoring in deeper five-outfielder leagues during spring training.

Yesterday

Jonathan Aranda • 1B • Rays

Jonathan Aranda a Potential Breakout Candidate in Full-Time Role

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda is a potential breakout candidate as he ascends into a full-time role for the 2026 season. The 27-year-old was named an American League All-Star for the first time in 2025. He finished the campaign with 2.5 fWAR, which is the highest mark of his four-year career so far. Aranda played a career-high 106 games, slashing .316/.393/.489 with 14 home runs and 146 wRC+ as the Rays' primary first baseman. He will likely earn even more playing time in 2026, especially as Yandy Diaz earns more starts at designated hitter and handles fewer first-base reps. Aranda currently ranks as the #16 first baseman in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball draft rankings for the 2026 season.

Yesterday

Emmanuel Rodriguez • CF • Twins |

Manuel Rodríguez • RP • Rays

Emmanuel Rodriguez to Break Camp with MLB Roster?

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez is a name to closely monitor during spring training as he could crack the Opening Day roster. According to MLB.com, Rodriguez is viewed as the No. 69 overall-ranked prospect in the sport and the No. 4-ranked in the Minnesota system. Rodriguez has battled numerous injuries during his minor league career, but has flashed immense upside when on the field. Last summer, the 22-year-old appeared in only 65 games in the minor leagues. He spent most of the year with Triple-A St. Paul (52 games), where he held a .258/.429/.423 line with seven doubles, six home runs, and nine stolen bases. While Byron Buxton is slated to cover center field, the corner outfield positions could be open for Rodriguez to claim. Managers in deeper five-outfielder leagues should keep a close eye on Rodriguez during spring training.

2 days ago

Carson Williams • SS • Rays

Carson Williams Set to Earn Everyday Role?

Tampa Bay Rays top infield prospect Carson Williams made his MLB debut late in the season and appears to be the favorite to land the starting shortstop job out of spring training. During his first 32-game stint with Tampa Bay, the former 28th overall pick (from the 2021 MLB Draft) posted a .172/.219/.354 line but showed solid power upside, launching five home runs. However, his hefty 41.5% K% tainted his production. Earlier in the season, Williams spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Durham, where he posted a .213/.318/.447 line with a .765 OPS. He hit 23 home runs and swiped 22 bases. While his strikeout rate will hinder his upside in points leagues, Williams has shown a solid power and speed skill set that could translate to deeper category formats. He is worth monitoring in spring training as he could be a viable late-round depth middle infielder in 15+ team formats.

7 days ago

Gavin Lux • LF • Rays

Gavin Lux to Primarily Play Second Base for Rays

According to Marc Topkin, newly acquired infielder/outfielder Gavin Lux is going to primarily play second base with the Tampa Bay Rays. It sounds like Lux is going to step in and fill the void left by Brandon Lowe. Rays' president of baseball operations Erik Neander sounds confident in Lux being an everyday option at the keystone. Lux spent most of his time in left field or as the designated hitter during his time with the Cincinnati Reds last season. He did play full-time at second base during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, so it's not an unfamiliar position to him. Last season, Lux slashed .269/.350/.374 with five home runs and 53 RBI in 140 games with the Reds. The loss of power at the position is significant because Lowe smacked 31 homers with the Rays last season. The front office clearly sees something in Lux, so maybe they can tap into some hidden potential.

Jan 16

Gavin Lux • LF • Rays

Gavin Lux Heading to Rays in Three-Team Trade

The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring infielder Gavin Lux and right-hander Chris Clark from the Cincinnati Reds on Friday in a three-team deal that also involves the Los Angeles Angels, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. In his first and only season with the Reds in 2025, Lux slashed .269/.350/.374 with only five home runs, 53 RBI, and 49 runs scored in 140 games played. The trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Reds allowed Lux to accumulate a career-high 503 plate appearances in an everyday role. The problem is that he hit just .179/.270/.196 against left-handed pitchers, which makes it unlikely he'll have an everyday role at second base in his new home in Tampa. Lux has a good command of the strike zone and takes plenty of walks, but he doesn't help himself with poor defensive metrics. He lost 2B eligibility going into 2026 and lacks power and speed, leaving him very little fantasy appeal.

Jan 16

Ken Waldichuk • SP • Rays

Rays Acquire Ken Waldichuk From the Braves

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired left-hander Ken Waldichuk and infielder Brett Wisely from the Atlanta Braves on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, according to Rays Communications. Waldichuk will head back to the American League after the Braves claimed the 28-year-old southpaw off waivers last week. He missed the entire 2024 season and some of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery. The former fifth-rounder had a rough 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, and a 64:42 K:BB ratio in 51 innings at Triple-A in 2025. In his two MLB seasons with the Athletics, Waldichuk had a 5.28 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with a 21% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate in 175 2/3 innings in 42 appearances (29 starts). Waldichuk will most likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Durham, where he'll provide starting and long-relief depth for Tampa.

Jan 13

Brett Wisely • 2B • Rays

Rays Acquire Brett Wisely From Braves

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired infielder Brett Wisely and left-hander Ken Waldichuk from the Atlanta Braves on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Wisely has played parts of three seasons in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants and Braves, posting a .214 batting average and .584 OPS in 168 games. He'll serve as a utility infielder for the Rays in 2026, with the ability to play second base, shortstop, third base, and center field. Waldichuk, 28, pitched in 42 games over 2022-23 with the Athletics before missing 2024 and some of 2025 after having Tommy John surgery. He has mostly been a starter in his career, going 6-11 with a 5.28 ERA in 42 major-league games. Wisely is out of minor-league options, which should help his chances of winning an Opening Day roster spot as a bench player.

Jan 12

Justyn-Henry Malloy • RF • Rays

Justyn-Henry Malloy Traded to Rays

The Detroit Tigers have traded outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations, according to Tigers PR. Malloy was recently designated for assignment following the Tigers re-signing reliever Kyle Finnegan. The 25-year-old appeared in 52 games for Detroit last season, slashing .221/.346/.308 (92 wRC+) in 127 plate appearances. The former sixth-round pick in 2021 has below-average power and speed with poor defensive metrics, but he has posted a double-digit walk rate at every stop of his career. Malloy could have an opportunity for playing time in the Rays' outfield if his defense can hold up, while he also has two minor-league options remaining, giving Tampa Bay some flexibility with their roster.

Jan 6

Brandon Lowe • 2B • Rays

Pirates Have Inquired About Brandon Lowe

The Pittsburgh Pirates have stayed aggressive in their pursuit of a bat this offseason and are among the teams that have inquired about Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Lowe will make $11.5 million in 2026 after Tampa picked up his option. The Pirates were also pursuing designated hitter Kyle Schwarber before he re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years and $150 million. Lowe, 31, hit .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, and 79 runs scored in 134 games in his eighth big-league season in 2025. The oft-injured left-handed-hitting second baseman had his best season since 2021. Lowe has plenty of pop from the left side, but his fantasy ceiling is limited because of his inability to hit left-handers and his lengthy injury history. But Lowe would be an upgrade for a Pittsburgh team looking to bolster its offense as they look to compete with a young and dominant pitching staff.

Dec 10

Steven Matz • RP • Rays

Rays Agree to Multi-Year Deal With Steven Matz

The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an undisclosed two-year deal with free-agent left-hander Steven Matz on Monday night, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Matz has pitched parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox. The veteran southpaw has a career record of 60-62 with a 4.19 ERA. The 34-year-old veteran spent the 2025 campaign with the Cardinals and Red Sox, going a combined 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 59:11 K:BB ratio in 53 appearances (two starts) over 76 2/3 innings pitched. Matz saved the first two games of his career this year and is expected to continue being used in a relief role in Tampa, potentially in high-leverage situations. Unless Matz is used as the Rays' primary closer, which is unlikely, he'll mostly be a non-factor in fantasy with a career 21.9% strikeout rate.

Dec 9

Shane Baz • SP • Rays

Shane Baz a Trade Target for the Astros

The Houston Astros have shown interest in trading for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander and Houston native Shane Baz, multiple league sources told Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. However, a deal isn't believed to be close, and some league sources think Baz being moved is unlikely. In his first trip through salary arbitration, Baz is projected to make $3.1 million this winter, and the 26-year-old has three more years of club control. It makes perfect sense for an Astros team that is looking to acquire young, controllable starting pitching. Houston has been wary of paying high prices for free-agent starters and prefers to go the trade route to help replace lefty Framber Valdez, who is expected to leave in free agency. If Baz is traded to Houston, center fielder Jake Meyers could be part of the package heading back to Tampa. In Baz's first full season post Tommy John surgery, he had a 4.87 ERA in 166 1/3 innings. If Baz can improve his command and limit the home runs against righties, he could take the next step in 2026 with the move back indoors in Tampa.

Dec 9

Cedric Mullins • CF • Rays

Cedric Mullins, Rays Agree on One-Year Deal

Free-agent outfielder Cedric Mullins and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed on a one-year deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Mullins, 31, struggled last year with the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets, posting a .216/.299/.391 slash line with 17 home runs, 58 runs, 59 RBI, 22 stolen bases, and a 94 wRC+ over 498 plate appearances. Mullins had a career-low .209 xBA, while his 24.1% strikeout rate was the highest it has been since the 2020 season. For Tampa Bay, the left-handed hitter figures to be the everyday starting center fielder, and since the Rays led the league in steals last year by a wide margin, he should have the green light on the base paths quite often. For fantasy managers, Mullins may drag down your batting average, but he can still hit up to 15 home runs while collecting 20-plus steals. At his current ADP (400.13), he is a viable late-round flier.

Dec 4

Jake Fraley • RF • Rays

Rays Re-Sign Jake Fraley to One-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays are re-signing outfielder Jake Fraley to a one-year, $3 million deal on Tuesday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays claimed Fraley off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Nov. 6 before designating him for assignment last week. The left-handed-hitting outfielder hit a combined .241/.332/.382 with a .714 OPS, six home runs, 23 RBI, 31 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 76 games with the Braves and Cincinnati Reds in 2025. It's highly unlikely that the oft-injured Fraley becomes much more than a platoon outfielder for the Rays in 2026. In his seven big-league seasons, the 30-year-old has a .508 OPS against left-handed pitchers. Fraley's high-water mark came in 2023 with the Reds, when he hit a career-high 15 home runs, drove in 65, and stole 21 bases in 111 games. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues can likely ignore him next year.

Nov 26

Shane McClanahan • SP • Rays

Shane McClanahan Expected to be "Fully Ready" for Spring Training

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (triceps) is expected to be "fully ready" for the start of spring training in mid-February of 2026, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. McClanahan was expected to be a full-go going into spring training this year, too, after having Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2023. However, the talented southpaw suffered a left triceps nerve injury in spring training and did not pitch at all for the team in 2025. He made two rehab starts in the minors before eventually going under the knife in August. The Rays have similar optimism that McClanahan will be good to go next year, but at this point, despite the high upside, fantasy managers should be wary of spending too much on the oft-injured Rays ace. Remember, McClanahan has not pitched in the big leagues since August of 2023, so he's sure to have restrictions if he's healthy in 2026, at least early on.

Oct 2

Everson Pereira • CF • Rays

Everson Pereira Done for the Season With Back Injury

The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Friday that they placed outfielder Everson Pereira (back) on the 10-day injured list with lower-back inflammation and reinstated infielder Jonathan Aranda (wrist) from the 10-day IL in a corresponding move. Pereira recently injured his back and will not be available for the final three games of the 2025 season this weekend in Toronto against the division-rival Blue Jays. The 24-year-old played in just his second major-league season with Tampa this year and appeared in just 23 games, going 9-for-65 (.138) with two home runs, eight RBI, seven runs, and two steals in 73 plate appearances. Pereira made his big-league debut two years ago with the New York Yankees and played in only 27 games, hitting .151 (14-for-93) with no homers, 10 RBI, and four stolen bases.

Sep 26

Jonathan Aranda • 1B • Rays

Jonathan Aranda Activated From Injured List on Friday

The Tampa Bay Rays activated infielder Jonathan Aranda (wrist) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and placed outfielder Everson Pereira (back) on the 10-day IL in a corresponding move, according to the team. The Rays have not released their starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, but Aranda should be back in there for the first time since fracturing his left wrist in late July. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger won't be able to contribute in fantasy, but he will make it back for the final three games of the regular season in what has been a breakout year for him. The Mexican first baseman was on a tear before his injury this summer, batting .316 (113-for-358) with 12 home runs, 54 RBI, and 53 runs scored in 103 games played. Aranda will be a nice source of power at the first base position going into next year.

Sep 26

Tampa Bay Rays News

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