Tampa Bay Rays News

Osvaldo Bido - Jettisoned from 40-man roster The Rays designated Bido for assignment Monday.

Impact Bido has already been in three organizations this offseason and could be headed to another as he goes to the waiver wire. The righty posted a 3.41 ERA and 24.3 percent strikeout rate with the Athletics in 2024 before stumbling to a 5.87 ERA and 18.7 percent strikeout rate in 2025. Bido does not have minor-league options remaining.

56 MINS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tsung-Che Cheng - Designated for assignment The Rays designated Cheng for assignment Monday.

Impact Cheng was claimed off waivers by the Rays last week, but he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster in order to make room for Brett Wisely and Ken Waldichuk. The 24-year-old went hitless in a brief stint with the Pirates last season and slashed just .209/.307/.271 at Triple-A Indianapolis.

59 MINS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ken Waldichuk - Dealt to Tampa Bay The Rays acquired Waldichuk and Brett Wisely from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Impact Waldichuk had been a waiver claim of Atlanta last week and he's now on the move again. The left-hander struggled in his first year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, posting an 8.65 ERA, 2.06 WHIP and 64:42 K:BB across 51 innings at the Triple-A level. However, Waldichuk boasts a career 33.9 percent strikeout rate in the minors, so the Rays felt he was worth a flyer. Waldichuk has minor-league options remaining and is likely to begin the 2026 season in the rotation at Triple-A Durham.

1 HOUR AGO • ROTOWIRE

Brett Wisely - Traded to Rays The Rays acquired Wisely and Ken Waldichuk from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Impact Wisely came up through the minors with the Rays before being traded to the Giants in November 2022. The 26-year-old is a career .214/.265/.319 hitter over parts of three major-league seasons, but he's slashed .275/.372/.433 at the Triple-A level and can play all over the diamond. Wisely is out of minor-league options and could compete for the Rays' opening at second base, though a reserve role is likelier.

1 HOUR AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rays may be heading to arbitration with probable 2026 closer The deadline for MLB arbitration came and went as the Rays were able to come to an agreement with 12 of their 13 arbitration-eligible player...

2 DAYS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

Rays lose out on potential trade candidate to replace Brandon Lowe Ever since the pre-Christmas deal that left the Rays roster without a clear option at second base, the front office was on the hunt for a vi...

2 DAYS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

Why Rays could steal J.T. Realmuto from the Phillies | Sporting News Realmuto's free agent choices may be limited.

3 DAYS AGO • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Dodgers Add an Infielder

Keeping tabs on all of MLB's notable free agency signings, trades, and extensions ahead of the 2026 season.

3 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Dodgers Add an Infielder

Taking an early crack at projecting the Rays' Opening Day roster This story was excerpted from Adam Berry's Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly...

3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Bryan Baker - Agrees to one-year deal Baker agreed to a one-year, $1.275 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Baker likely didn't live up to the expectations the Rays had for him when they traded for him in July, as he put up a 4.75 ERA and 1.12 WHIP over 30.1 innings while working as a setup man. He'll get another chance to redeem himself in 2026, but competition will be fierce with Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta also vying for high-leverage opportunities.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kevin Kelly - Reaches deal with TB Kelly agreed to a one-year, $925,000 contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Kelly missed more than a month toward the start of the 2025 season due to a glute strain and struggled to be effective on the mound after returning, finishing the year with a 5.90 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across 39.2 frames. He'll take just a $149,000 pay raise as a result and will likely be limited to middle-relief duty until he recaptures his previous form.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Josh Lowe - Settles with Rays Lowe agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Lowe failed to live up to his breakout 2023 campaign again in 2025, ending the season with a .220/.283/.366 slash line alongside 11 homers, 40 RBI and 56 runs scored over 435 plate appearances. He still provides some value as a base-stealing threat, but even his 18 steals this past season marked a three-year low.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Pepiot - Avoids arbitration with Rays Pepiot agreed to a one-year, $3.025 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Pepiot made a career-high 31 starts for the Rays in 2025 but finished the season with a career-worst 3.86 ERA over 167.2 innings, largely due to his allowing 26 homers. The 28-year-old righty will receive a $2.25 million raise from Tampa Bay during his first year of arbitration eligibility and projects to be one of the top starters in the Rays' rotation in 2026.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Richie Palacios - Settles with Rays Palacios signed a one-year, $945,000 contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Palacios appeared in just 17 games for the Rays in 2025 but made the most of his limited opportunities, slashing .333/.396/.452 with three RBI, 10 runs scored and four stolen bases over 48 plate appearances. The 28-year-old utility man could begin to see regular time at second base in 2026 now that Brandon Lowe is in Pittsburgh, which would grant Palacios many more opportunities to show off his baserunning skills.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Steven Wilson - Receives $1.52 million from TB Wilson signed a one-year, $1.52 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Wilson joined the Rays in November via trade and will now receive a $570,000 raise from his new club after posting a 3.42 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 55.1 innings with the White Sox in 2025. Although he made several appearances in high-leverage situations with Chicago, the 31-year-old righty will likely be relegated to a middle-relief role in the Rays' bullpen this upcoming season.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nick Fortes - Avoids arbitration Fortes signed a one-year, $2.535 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact After being traded from Miami to Tampa Bay at the deadline, Fortes slashed .213/.307/.348 with 11 RBI and eight runs scored across 101 plate appearances. He could continue to split reps behind the plate with Hunter Feduccia in 2026, though Fortes was by far the more productive of the two backstops last year.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rays strike minor league deals with 2 players that could make an impact this year Minor league contracts, especially for the Rays, seem to be the best way for clubs to find that "diamond in the rough" that can still impact...

4 DAYS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

Griffin Jax - Settles with Tampa Bay Jax agreed to a one-year, $3.565 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Jax receives a decent raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility after posting a 4.23 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 99:21 K:BB over 66 innings between the Rays and Twins last season. The right-hander is expected to begin 2026 as part of Tampa Bay's closer committee, along with Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Garrett Cleavinger - Avoids arbitration with TB Cleavinger agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rays on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The left-hander will double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility after tallying two saves and 22 holds with a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 81:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings last season. Cleavinger is expected to begin 2026 as part of Tampa Bay's closer committee, with Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta also in the mix.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rays claim Cheng from Pirates for middle-infield depth ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays claimed Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday, adding some needed middle-infield depth to thei...

4 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Former Red Sox trade acquisition signs with Rays in return to AL East One year after the Tampa Bay Rays signed former Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, they've added yet another former...

4 DAYS AGO • BOSOXINJECTION.COM

Tsung-Che Cheng - Scooped on waivers by Rays The Rays claimed Cheng off waivers from the Pirates on Wednesday.

Impact Cheng went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in his first taste of the majors in 2025 and also slashed only .209/.307/.271 during his time at Triple-A Indianapolis. The 24-year-old can play both middle infield spots and is likely destined for Triple-A Durham to begin the 2026 campaign.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Brian Van Belle - Back with Rays on minors deal Van Belle (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Rays let go of Van Belle earlier in the offseason following surgery to repair his UCL, but he will now rejoin the organization while he rehabs his injury. The 29-year-old righty isn't expected to pitch at all in 2026, but he may be an option for the Rays' 2027 pitching staff after turning in a 3.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 105 Triple-A innings in 2025.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rays acquire recently DFA'd Tigers outfielder for roster depth Tampa Bay struck a deal with the Tigers and fortunately, it didn't include a franchise star as the centerpiece. The Rays only lost some cash...

5 DAYS AGO • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

Edward Olivares - Inks NRI pact with Tampa Bay The Rays signed Olivares to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact A career .254/.306/.407 hitter over parts of five big-league seasons, Olivares spent the 2025 season with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan. The 29-year-old will compete for a roster spot with the Rays but is likely destined to begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Durham.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

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