Tampa Bay Rays News

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Edwin Uceta • RP • Rays

Edwin Uceta to Miss First Few Months of 2027 After Shoulder Surgery

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta (shoulder) underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his right shoulder in October and will miss at least the first couple of months of the 2027 season, president of baseball operations Erik Neander told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Uceta was set to enter the 2026 campaign as Tampa's primary ninth-inning option, but that all changed when he dealt with a right-shoulder impingement and never pitched for the Rays at all last season. Bryan Baker ended up taking over closing duties for Tampa and led all of baseball with 41 saves and a 1.44 ERA to help the team get back to the World Series, where they lost in five games to the Milwaukee Brewers. Uceta will now miss the start of next season as well, and when he returns, he will most likely be relegated to a high-leverage setup role in front of Baker. The 28-year-old Dominican hurler combined to go 12-3 with a 2.98 ERA (2.98 FIP), 1.04 WHIP, six saves, 160 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 117 2/3 relief innings over 100 appearances out of the bullpen in his first two seasons for the Rays in 2024 and 2025. There is no guarantee that Uceta will be as dominant a high-leverage bullpen arm when he returns from his shoulder issues.

5 days ago

Drew Rasmussen • SP • Rays

Rays Exercise 2027 Option on Drew Rasmussen

The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Saturday that they exercised their $20 million 2027 option on right-hander Drew Rasmussen, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen's option went from $8 million to $20 million for next year after he made 30 starts during the regular season and spent fewer than 45 days on the injured list. It was a successful season for the 31-year-old, who has a lengthy history of arm injuries. Despite the increase in the value of his 2027 option, the Rays will bring Rasmussen back after he went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA (2.82 FIP) and a league-leading 0.91 WHIP with a career-high 174 strikeouts and 32 walks in 172 innings pitched across his 30 regular-season starts. It was his second straight season making the All-Star team at the top of Tampa's starting rotation. Rasmussen kept it going in the postseason to help the Rays reach the World Series, where they were defeated in five games by the Milwaukee Brewers. In five starts during the playoffs, he allowed seven earned runs (2.20 ERA) and 21 hits (two homers) with only five walks and 21 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings pitched.

7 days ago

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Back in Starting Lineup for Game 5 of World Series

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (foot) is back at third base and will bat third in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, according to MLB.com. Caminero was pulled in the 12th inning of the Game 4 win over Milwaukee on Tuesday night with a sore right foot, but it was nothing serious, and he is back in action the very next day in a must-win game for the Rays. The 23-year-old Dominican went 1-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and a strikeout on Tuesday before leaving in extra innings, and he is now hitting .250 (12-for-48) with a home run, four doubles, five RBI, seven runs scored, five walks, and 15 strikeouts in 13 games this postseason. Caminero went hitless in three at-bats against Misiorowski earlier in the series and will have a tall task against the flamethrowing youngster as the Rays try to prevail for a second straight night to force a Game 6 in the Fall Classic back in Milwaukee on Friday night.

Oct 28

Drew Rasmussen • SP • Rays

Drew Rasmussen Making Game 5 Start for Rays on Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen will start Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen will look to bounce back in his second start against the Brewers in this year's Fall Classic after allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four in just 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision in Game 2 in Milwaukee on Saturday. The 31-year-old veteran was very sharp in the postseason this October before his start against the Brew Crew last weekend, allowing only three earned runs on 13 hits (two homers) while walking three and striking out 23 in 21 innings in two starts against the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series and one start in the AL Division Series versus the New York Yankees. If he pitches like he did in the first three playoff games and his 30 regular-season starts, the Rays will have a great shot at forcing a Game 6 back in Milwaukee on Friday night. Rasmussen was lights-out in 2026, going 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 174 strikeouts in 172 innings pitched.

Oct 28

Liam Hicks • C • Rays

Liam Hicks Adds Two More Hits in Game 4 Win in World Series

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks had two of the team's nine hits in their 4-3 12-inning victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night in Game 4 of the World Series. Hicks went 2-for-5 at the plate to help the Rays avoid a four-game sweep in the best-of-seven series and force a Game 5 in Tampa on Wednesday evening. It was the second straight World Series game with a hit for Hicks, who hit a two-run homer in the Game 2 loss in Milwaukee on Saturday. The left-handed hitting backstop did not play in the 10-1 Game 3 loss on Monday night with left-hander Robert Gasser on the mound for the Brewers. Hicks is now hitting .237 (9-for-38) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, and two runs scored in his first 12 postseason games this October after hitting a combined .284/.367/.434 with an .801 OPS, 18 home runs, 82 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 479 at-bats in the regular season with the Rays and Miami Marlins. The Canadian catcher will have a tough matchup in Game 5 of the Fall Classic on Wednesday night against Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski.

Oct 28

Chandler Simpson • LF • Rays

Chandler Simpson Records Three Hits to Keep Rays Alive

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson was one of the team's primary contributors in the 4-3 12-inning victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night. Simpson went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and an RBI to help keep the Rays alive in the Fall Classic and force a Game 5 on Wednesday evening in Tampa. In addition to his strong night on offense, Simpson made a great leaping catch at the left-field wall to prevent extra bases off the bat of Garrett Mitchell. The 25-year-old speedster still has not homered since debuting in the majors last year, but he still has plenty of ways to help the Rays, as he hit over .300 during the regular season with a league-high 46 stolen bases while adding six triples, 38 RBI, and 66 runs scored in 151 regular-season games across 612 plate appearances. In his first postseason showing of his career this October, Simpson has continued to hit the ball well, going 12-for-41 (.293) with two doubles, a triple, six RBI, five stolen bases, and five runs scored in 12 games played. Tampa will need more out of him on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the World Series if they want to send the series back to Milwaukee on Friday night.

Oct 28

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Expected to be Fine for Game 5

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that third baseman Junior Caminero (foot) was fine despite limping off the field in the bottom of the 12th inning in the 4-3 extra-inning win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night due to a right-foot injury, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. It sounds like Caminero will be good to go to start in Game 5 of the Fall Classic in Tampa on Wednesday night as the Rays try to win two straight to send the series back to Milwaukee. Before leaving the game in extra innings, Caminero went 1-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and a strikeout. Caminero has broken out for the Rays in each of the last two seasons, and he hit .276/.360/.524 with a career-best .885 OPS, 42 home runs, 101 RBI, 100 runs scored, and three steals in 162 games played during the regular season after clubbing 45 dingers and driving in 110 in 2025. He has not been quite as good in 13 games this postseason, though, hitting .250 (12-for-48) with a homer, four doubles, five RBI, seven runs scored, five walks, and 15 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances. Caminero's lone homer in the playoffs this October came in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians.

Oct 28

Griffin Jax • SP • Rays

Griffin Jax to Start Game 4 of World Series

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax will make the start for Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night as the Rays try to avoid being swept in four games in the best-of-seven series, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 31-year-old veteran will have a tall task against a Brewers team that banged out 16 hits in their 10-1 win over Tampa in Game 3 of the series at Tropicana Field on Monday night. On top of that, Jax has not been very effective in two postseason appearances (one start) this year, allowing four earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in six innings pitched against the division-rival New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Championship Series. Jax faced the Brewers twice in a relief role at the beginning of the 2026 season and was hit around, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits while walking one and striking out one in just one inning pitched out of the bullpen. It goes without saying that Jax will be on a short leash early in Game 4 in a must-win game if he is not effective.

Oct 27

Drew Rasmussen • SP • Rays

Drew Rasmussen Stumbles for First Time This Postseason

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen went into Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night against the hosting Milwaukee Brewers, having allowed only three earned runs with 23 strikeouts and only three walks in his first three starts of the postseason against the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians (twice). Rasmussen was unable to slow down the red-hot Brewers, allowing three earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four in just 3 2/3 innings pitched for a no-decision. It was even more disappointing for the 31-year-old veteran after the Rays gave him a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rasmussen gave two of those runs back immediately in the bottom of the first inning and was yanked with two outs in the fourth inning. He will be hoping to put this outing behind him if the World Series makes it to a Game 6, which would be back in Milwaukee. Rasmussen made his second straight All-Star squad in 2026 and was excellent during the regular season as well, going 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA, a league-best 0.91 WHIP, and a 174:32 K:BB in 172 innings in 30 starts. His 174 strikeouts were a new career high.

Oct 25

Liam Hicks • C • Rays

Liam Hicks Delivers Big Fly in World Series Game 2 Loss

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Liam Hicks was part of the team's offensive explosion in the top of the first inning in Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. In the Rays' four-run outburst out of the gate on Saturday against right-hander Logan Henderson, Hicks hit a two-run home run. It would be his only hit of the night, and the last time the Rays crossed home plate. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter now has three RBI in the first two games of this year's Fall Classic, but he has gone just 7-for-33 (.212) with a homer, a double, eight RBI, two runs scored, three walks, and six strikeouts in 11 games played. The Canadian native was one of the more attractive backstops in fantasy baseball during the regular season, hitting .284/.367/.434 with an .801 OPS, 18 home runs, 82 RBI, 66 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 142 games with the Rays and Miami Marlins in a breakout campaign in just his sophomore season in the big leagues. Hicks has swung a hotter bat in the last few games, and the Rays are going to need that to continue to get back into this series.

Oct 25

Jonathan Aranda • 1B • Rays

Jonathan Aranda has Three Hits in Losing Effort in Game 1 of World Series

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda did his part in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night in Milwaukee against the Brewers, but it was not enough in the 3-2 loss. Aranda went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate out of the two-hole for the Rays with a run scored and a walk. It was the second three-hit game of this postseason for the 28-year-old left-handed slugger, and Aranda has now gone 12-for-38 (.316) with a homer, five RBI, and five runs scored in 10 postseason games this year for the Rays. However, Aranda has not homered since Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival New York Yankees on Oct. 3. The Rays are going to need Aranda's bat to stay hot if they are going to have any chance of taking down the red-hot Brewers in this year's Fall Classic, especially after falling down 1-0 on Friday night. Aranda broke out during the 2026 regular season in his third full season in the majors, slashing .274/.358/.434 with a .792 OPS, 22 home runs, 92 RBI, and 73 runs scored in 155 games and 668 plate appearances.

Oct 24

Nick Martinez • SP • Rays

Nick Martinez to Start Game 1 of World Series Against Brewers

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Nick Martinez will make the start in Game 1 of the World Series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Starting Martinez in Game 1 of the World Series will allow Tampa to push back their top two starters, Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta. It will be Martinez's third road outing this postseason. In starts against the division-rival New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and against the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Championship Series, Martinez allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out six in nine innings pitched. The 36-year-old veteran was better on the road during the regular season, too, posting a 2.38 ERA with 55 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 94 2/3 innings. Martinez faced the Brewers on the road in his first start of the season on March 30, allowing two earned runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings for a no-decision. The veteran hurler has been solid in 20 1/3 career playoff innings, going 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA, 17 strikeouts, five walks, and three holds.

Oct 22

Richie Palacios • 2B • Rays

Richie Palacios Stays Red-Hot Heading into the World Series

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Richie Palacios came through for his team in their 7-3 ALCS Game 6 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, opening the scoring with a two-run double in the second inning. Palacios finished the night with two hits and two RBI in four plate appearances. The 29-year-old was a modest contributor for Tampa Bay in the regular season, hitting .235/.330/.374 with 10 home runs, 57 RBI, 51 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases across 399 plate appearances. However, Palacios has been a major difference-maker for the Rays in the playoffs so far, hitting .364 with three extra-base hits and four RBI across 22 trips to the plate. The lefty-swinging Palacios will likely feature heavily in the World Series against the right-handed pitchers of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Oct 20

Junior Caminero • 3B • Rays

Junior Caminero Hits First Postseason Home Run in ALCS-Clinching Win

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was one of the stars of his team's 7-3, series-clinching win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday. Caminero went two-for-three with a walk, a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI. The 23-year-old was one of the best hitters in MLB during the regular season, slashing .276/.360/.524 with 42 home runs, 101 RBI, 100 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 702 plate appearances. Caminero has been steady in the postseason as well, hitting .273 with four RBI across 37 trips to the plate. However, his home run against Cleveland on Monday was his first of the playoffs. If Caminero is finding his power stroke, he could be an even bigger difference-maker in the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Oct 20

Yandy Díaz • DH • Rays

Yandy Diaz Goes Deep in ALCS Game 6 Win, Helps Rays Advance

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz went 1-for-4 at the plate with a two-run home run in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night against the Cleveland Guardians to help the Rays get back to the World Series. Diaz has picked up in the postseason right where he left off in the regular season, where he hit .293/.359/.446 with an .805 OPS, 22 home runs, 85 RBI, 93 runs scored, and three steals in 614 at-bats. The 35-year-old Cuban slugger hit his second home run of the ALCS and heads into this year's World Series having gone 12-for-39 (.308) with two homers, four doubles, four RBI, seven runs scored, one walk, and nine strikeouts in nine total games. Diaz went hitless in just one of those nine games and has recorded multiple hits in three postseason games this year. The Rays are hoping that Diaz can continue to rack up hits regularly and set the table for a potent offense against the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.

Oct 20

Freddy Peralta • SP • Rays

Freddy Peralta Named ALCS MVP After Another Strong Start

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta was named the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player after helping the Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the series in Tampa on Monday night. In the 7-3 win at Tropicana Field, Peralta continued to be excellent in the postseason, allowing just one earned run on five hits while walking three and striking out three in 5 1/3 innings to pick up the win and send his team to the World Series to face the Milwaukee Brewers. It was Peralta's second win of the ALCS after he struck out six in six scoreless innings for a win in Game 2 against Cleveland. The Rays also used Peralta out of the bullpen in Game 4, when he went two-thirds of an inning without giving up a run. Tampa will be hoping that the 30-year-old veteran from the Dominican Republic can keep it up into the World Series as he gets set to face his former team. Peralta went 10-11 overall in 2026 with a 4.42 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 32 starts, but he was better in 10 regular-season starts with the Rays, posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 43:15 K:BB. He faced Milwaukee on July 20, when he was still with the New York Mets and was hit hard, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings pitched for his ninth loss of the season.

Oct 20

Freddy Peralta • SP • Rays

Freddy Peralta Starting Game 6 of ALCS

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta will start Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday back in Tampa against the Cleveland Guardians on a short turnaround after the Rays won Game 5 of the series in Cleveland on Sunday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Peralta will be looking for more of the same after he picked up the win in Game 2 against Cleveland by tossing six shutout innings with six strikeouts. In three postseason appearances (two starts) this year, Peralta has been money for the Rays, allowing just one earned run on seven hits (one homer) while walking four and striking out nine in 11 1/3 innings pitched for a win and a hold. He threw two-thirds of an inning out of the bullpen in Game 4 of the ALCS in Cleveland. The veteran hurler did not face the Guardians at all during the regular season, going 10-11 on the year with a 4.42 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts in 169 innings pitched over his 32 starts with the Rays and New York Mets. Peralta was better in his 10 regular-season starts with Tampa, posting a 3.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 43:15 K:BB in 55 1/3 innings.

Oct 19

Chandler Simpson • LF • Rays

Chandler Simpson Has Productive Game 5

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson showed off his skills in the team's 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALCS on Sunday. Simpson was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a single, a stolen base, and a run scored. Simpson showed off his speed and how much of a threat he is in the run game with his second stolen base of the postseason. The speedster had 46 stolen bases during the regular season. Simpson is hitting just .238 in the postseason, but he had a nice game in Game 5 and will look to build on that back home as the Rays try to put away the Guardians and make the World Series in Game 6 at Tampa Bay.

Oct 19

Jonathan Aranda • 1B • Rays

Jonathan Aranda Continues Strong Postseason in ALCS Game 5 Win

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda was one of the key contributors in his team's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday, logging two hits and an RBI in five plate appearances. Aranda emerged as a staple at the top of the Rays lineup in 2026, hitting .274/.358/.434 with 22 home runs, 92 RBI, and 73 runs scored across 668 plate appearances. The 28-year-old has continued his solid production in the playoffs so far, slashing .290/.353/.387 with one home run, five RBI, and four runs scored across 35 plate appearances. Tampa Bay will have a chance to advance past Cleveland and into the World Series with a win in Game 6 on Monday.

Oct 18

Bryan Baker • RP • Rays

Bryan Baker Logs Fifth Postseason Save in ALCS Game 5 Win

Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker continued his dominant postseason on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in his team's 3-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. Baker had a breakout regular season for the Rays, pitching to a 1.44 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 41 saves across 62 1/3 innings. He's continued his excellent production in the playoffs, logging six strikeouts and five saves while allowing one hit, two walks, and zero earned runs across six innings (six games). Tampa Bay has a chance to advance to the World Series for the third time in franchise history with a win in Game 6 of the ALCS on Monday.

Oct 18

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