Welcome back to the Rays Beat newsletter, which will land in your inbox throughout the offseason. TAMPA -- Have any questions about the Rays’ offseason? We’ve got answers here. Which players are free agents? Will the Rays extend any qualifying offers? Just one: starter Adrian Houser, who was acquired from the White Sox at the July 31 Trade Deadline. He is ineligible for a qualifying offer, as he was traded midseason. Which players have contract options? Three players have club options that must be resolved within five days after the end of the World Series. Second baseman Brandon Lowe’s option is worth $11.5 million with a $500,000 buyout. Closer Pete Fairbanks’ option is worth $11 million with a $1 million buyout. Both players would become free agents if the Rays don’t exercise their options. On a different note, shortstop Taylor Walls has a $2.45 million option with a $50,000 buyout, but he would remain under club control (and go through the arbitration process) even if the Rays don’t pick up his option. |
What kind of help do they need? The Rays can bring back pretty much their entire team next season. But that team went 77-85 this year, and their payroll isn’t expected to change dramatically at this point, so they could get creative in pursuit of improvements. The outfield production must be better, whether that happens internally or through additions. The club will be open-minded about its catching situation. The Rays could pursue another short-term shortstop upgrade to supplement Walls’ terrific glove. They could use some additional depth in their rotation and the usual assortment of arms in the bullpen. The Rays also have a tendency to surprise. Nobody expected them to sign starter Zach Eflin after the 2022 season, nor was it obvious they’d pursue a shortstop like Ha-Seong Kim at the outset of last offseason. They’re flexible enough to strike quickly or react to the market as it develops. |
Who might they be willing to trade? There is bound to be buzz around the Rays’ veterans as they approach free agency, including Fairbanks and Lowe (assuming their options are exercised) as well as designated hitter/first baseman Yandy Díaz. The Rays don’t have obvious in-house replacements for Díaz or Lowe, which would seem to make them less likely trade candidates, whereas Fairbanks is an increasingly expensive one-inning reliever a year away from free agency. They could potentially trade an outfielder, especially if they add someone to that already-crowded picture. And they have a deep farm system, albeit one currently lighter than usual on Top 100-type talent, so they could leverage that on the trade market. |
Who’s coming off the 60-day injured list and who could go to make room for them? Nine players finished the season on the 60-day IL, and five seem like layups to be reinstated to the 40-man roster: Hunter Bigge, Shane McClanahan, Manuel Rodríguez, Jonny DeLuca and Walls. Rodríguez (flexor repair) will be out until late May or June, but the others should be good to go in Spring Training. It’s less clear what the Rays will do with righties Brian Van Belle and Alex Faedo, Rule 5 lefty Nate Lavender and outfielder Stuart Fairchild, who also finished on the 60-day IL. Houser will clear one spot on the 40-man roster, and the Rays could part with a handful of pitchers who were added to provide depth down the stretch, if needed. |
Who needs to be added to the 40-man roster to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft? When is that deadline? That deadline usually spurs some activity -- prospects being added, others being dealt, big leaguers getting traded to clear space, etc. -- and it is set for Nov. 18. The following Top 30 Prospects are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft: catcher Dominic Keegan (No. 15), infielder Cooper Kinney (No. 17) and infielder Jadher Areinamo (No. 24). There are some other players to consider, like reliever Evan Reifert (selected and returned last year), infielder/outfielder Tanner Murray and pitchers Forrest Whitley, Marcus Johnson and Alexander Alberto, but there aren’t a lot of obvious picks to stick if selected aside from perhaps Keegan. When is the non-tender deadline? The non-tender deadline, by which Tampa Bay must tender contracts for next season to those players or they become free agents, is Nov. 21. The deadline to exchange arbitration figures is Jan. 8. The Rays have the Majors’ largest class of arb-eligible players, so they will be busy leading up to both deadlines to avoid a big slate of hearings. Any other key dates to know? The GM Meetings are Nov. 10-13 in Las Vegas. The Winter Meetings are Dec. 8-10 near Disney World, with the MLB Draft Lottery on Dec. 9 and the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10. The international signing period ends Dec. 15, and the new period begins on Jan. 15. Where are they playing their home games next season? While the new ownership group’s top priority is building a new ballpark for the future, the plan is for the Rays to return to Tropicana Field in 2026, beginning with their home opener on April 6. New CEO Ken Babby mentioned that the Rays are investing in upgrades beyond the expected repairs, saying the Trop “is going to look better than it has ever looked,” with further details expected to be revealed closer to Opening Day. |
|
|
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
|
|
• Rays farm director Blake Butera will be the Nationals’ new manager. Read more >> • The Rays promoted four employees in their baseball operations department, including Hamilton Marx to assistant GM. Read more >> • We took a closer look at the Rays’ club option decisions. Read more >> • Junior Caminero was on MLB Network talking about his role at the World Series and more. Watch here >> |
The Rays announced the opening of the Rays Pop-Up Team Store located across from Tropicana Field at 1101 First Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. They will host a grand opening event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, with starter Ryan Pepiot making a guest appearance. Free parking is available in Lot 6 at The Trop. “We very much look forward to being back at Tropicana Field for the 2026 baseball season,” Rays chief business officer Bill Walsh said. “There's been great progress with repairs, and the pop-up store is a concrete first step to moving back into Tropicana Field. This new retail space will also give us the opportunity to host special events and allow Rays fans the chance to come together and shop throughout the holiday season.” For more information, visit RaysBaseball.com/TeamStore. |
FORWARDED FROM A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE NOW |
To subscribe to Rays Beat, visit this page and mark "Rays Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Rays or that they're checked as your favorite team. |
|
|
|
