GRIFFIN JAX NEWS

Part of Rays' closer-by-committee Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays in 2026, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact There's been some talk of Jax potentially stretching out to join the Rays' rotation, but the current plan is to leave the 31-year-old in the bullpen. Acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline, Jax had an elevated 4.23 ERA in 2025, but a 2.51 FIP and 35 percent strikeout rate were more indicative of how he pitched. Mason Montgomery, Bryan Baker, Hunter Bigge, Steven Wilson and Manny Rodriguez (elbow) could also work their way into high-leverage work, but the tentative plan seems to be for Jax, Cleavinger and Uceta to share the closer role.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Twins acquire reliever Eric Orze in trade with Rays for minor leaguer to begin bullpen rebuild

The Minnesota Twins have taken a small step toward rebuilding their bullpen by acquiring right-handed reliever Eric Orze in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league pitcher...

NOVEMBER 19 • Associated Press

Lowe and Mangum homer and Rays flirt with no-hitter in 6-2 win over Orioles

Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum hit solo homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays kept the Baltimore Orioles hitless through the first six innings in a 6-2 victory

SEPTEMBER 25 • Associated Press

Opening Wednesday Jax will serve as the Rays' opener in Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

Impact With Ryan Pepiot unavailable for his scheduled start Wednesday due to fatigue, the Rays will turn to Jax to kick things off in what figures to be a bullpen game. The 30-year-old right-hander has given up eight earned runs in just 12 innings since joining the Rays and isn't expected to pitch past the first inning during what will be his second opening assignment in seven days.

SEPTEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' 7-game win streak snapped after opener strategy falls flat TAMPA -- The Rays had their reasons for switching up their pitching plans on Friday night and slotting reliever Griffin Jax ahead of starter...

SEPTEMBER 6 • MLB.COM

Guardians end Rays' winning streak at 7 with 7-1 victory

José Ramírez had three hits and two RBIs and the Cleveland Guardians had a five-run second inning in a 7-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night, snapping the Rays’ season-best wi...

SEPTEMBER 6 • Associated Press

Rays try to keep home win streak alive, host the Guardians

The Tampa Bay Rays host the Cleveland Guardians looking to continue a six-game home winning streak

SEPTEMBER 5 • Associated Press

Opening Friday's game Jax will serve as the opener in Friday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Jax has worked primarily in high-leverage spots all season, and that has continued since he joined the Rays at the trade deadline. However, he's struggled to a 7.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP across 10 innings with Tampa Bay, so this could be a way for him to reset. Jax will likely only work one inning before turning things over to Ian Seymour.

SEPTEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Squanders save opportunity Jax didn't factor into the decision during Tuesday's 6-5 win over Seattle, allowing one run on two walks and one hit without recording an out.

Impact Jax took the mound in the ninth inning of a two-run game, but he was removed in favor of Garrett Cleavinger after yielding two walks and a single without logging an out. Cleavinger held on for the save, but one of Jax's inherited runners came in to score. It's unclear why regular closer Pete Fairbanks didn't pitch Tuesday, as Fairbanks had pitched once in the last three days and remains a reliable ninth-inning option.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Squanders save opportunity Jax didn't factor into the decision during Tuesday's 6-5 win over Seattle, allowing one run on two walks and one hit without recording an out.

Impact Jax took the mound in the ninth inning of a two-run game, but he was removed in favor of Garrett Cleavinger after yielding two walks and a single without logging an out. Cleavinger held on for the save, but one of Jax's inherited runners came in to score. It's unclear why regular closer Pete Fairbanks didn't pitch Tuesday, as Fairbanks had pitched once in the last three days and remains a reliable ninth-inning option.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Junior Caminero's 40th homer and 100th RBI help Rays beat Mariners 6-5

Junior Caminero hit his 40th homer and drove in four runs to reach 100 RBIs as the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners 6-5

SEPTEMBER 3 • Associated Press

Josh Lowe homers twice and Ryan Pepiot throws 5 scoreless innings as Rays beat Nationals 4-1

Josh Lowe homered twice and drove in all four of Tampa Bay's runs as the Rays beat the Washington Nationals 4-1

AUGUST 30 • Associated Press

Who else? Manzardo delivers 3rd career walk-off to save Guards CLEVELAND -- Kyle Manzardo continues to deliver for the Guardians in clutch time. Manzardo lined a walk-off single off Griffin Jax on Wednes...

AUGUST 27 • MLB.COM

Kyle Manzardo delivers as the Guardians beat the Rays 4-3 in 10 innings

Kyle Manzardo hit a game-ending single with two out in the 10th inning, and the Cleveland Guardians topped the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

AUGUST 27 • Associated Press

Messick pitches 7 shutout innings as Guardians beat Rays 3-0

Parker Messick pitched seven shutout innings in his second big league start, and the Cleveland Guardians snapped a six-game losing streak and a 28-inning scoreless drought with a 3...

AUGUST 27 • Associated Press

Takes loss Friday Jax (1-6) allowed three earned runs on three hits while striking out one across one inning to take the loss Friday against the Mariners.

Impact This marked Jax's fourth appearance since being dealt to the Rays, and the second in which he's allowed at least one earned run. He entered the game in the eighth inning with a two-run lead, but he allowed a pair of singles before serving up a three-run home run to Cal Raleigh. Jax now has an inflated 4.93 ERA on the season, but his 76:15 K:BB in 49.1 innings is indicative of how dominant he's been for long stretches of the campaign.

AUGUST 9 • ROTOWIRE

Raleigh hits MLB-leading 43rd homer in 8th to rally Mariners to a 3-2 win over Rays

Cal Raleigh hit his MLB-leading 43rd homer of the season, a go-ahead three-run shot in the eighth inning, giving the Seattle Mariners a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays

AUGUST 9 • Associated Press

Caminero homers twice to reach 30 in the Rays' 5-4 victory over the Angels

Junior Caminero hit his 29th and 30th homers, Christopher Morel had a go-ahead shot and six Tampa Bay pitchers combined to strike out 16 in the Rays’ 5-4 victory over the Los Angel...

AUGUST 6 • Associated Press

Rays come up empty again, get shut out for 2nd time by Dodgers The Windup | Joe Boyle delivers a strong start, but relievers Mason Englert and Griffin Jax allow runs.

AUGUST 3 • TAMPABAY.COM

Twins still trying to process deadline moves: "A lot of guys were shocked" Sometime around 5:50 p.m. local time, outfielder Matt Wallner estimated, reliever Louie Varland’s phone rang. About six minutes later, so di...

AUGUST 2 • TWINCITIES.COM

Rays place All-Star first baseman Jonathan Aranda on injured list with a fractured left wrist

The Tampa Bay Rays placed All-Star first baseman Jonathan Aranda on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist

AUGUST 1 • Associated Press

Deadspin | Twins deal Griffin Jax to Rays; Ty France, Louis Varland to Jays Deadspin | Twins deal Griffin Jax to Rays; Ty France, Louis Varland to Jays

AUGUST 1 • DEADSPIN.COM

Padres make waves at trade deadline again, unafraid to deal away one of baseball's top prospects

General manager A

AUGUST 1 • Associated Press

MLB Trade Deadline Winners and Losers: How are the Padres Both?!

Here are the biggest winners and losers of the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

AUGUST 1 • FOX SPORTS

Rays acquire reliever Jax in deal for Bradley, pick up Houser from White Sox In a surprising Trade Deadline deal on Thursday, the Rays added one of the top relievers on the market, right-hander Griffin Jax from the Tw...

JULY 31 • MLB.COM