Tampa Bay Rays News

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

Taking in all the action from Monday's full slate of games at the World Baseball Classic.

7 HOURS AGO • FOX SPORTS

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

Carson Williams - Pushing for roster spot Williams went 2-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers and is now 7-for-19 with an RBI this spring.

Impact Williams, one of Tampa Bay's top prospects, closed out last season in the major leagues and is now trying to break Rays camp with an Opening Day roster spot. The 22-year-old infielder has hit safely in six of his eight Grapefruit League appearances so far, picking up a pair of doubles as well. He's competing primarily with the switch-hitting Taylor Walls, who has gone 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBI in four spring outings, for regular reps at shortstop, and Williams could still open the new year with Triple-A Durham if Gavin Lux (upper body) and Richie Palacios (back) are healthy.

8 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

Here are the World Baseball Classic up-to-date pool standings and the remaining games in each pool.

10 HOURS AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

Liberatore sets sights on Opening Day starter bid with swing-and-miss stuff JUPITER, Fla. -- Left-hander Matthew Liberatore continues to make the case that he should be the Cardinals’ Opening Day starter against the...

12 HOURS AGO • MLB.COM

Ryan set for belated spring debut on Tuesday NORTH PORT, Fla. -- More than two weeks after he was initially scheduled to start, Joe Ryan will make his 2026 Spring Training debut on Tues...

16 HOURS AGO • MLB.COM

Cedric Mullins - On track to play Tuesday Rays manager Kevin Cash said he expects Mullins (back) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mullins hasn't played since last Tuesday while managing a sore back, but the Rays never viewed the injury as a long-term concern. Assuming he's able to check back into the lineup Tuesday, Mullins should have plenty of time to pick up at-bats during spring training in advance of Opening Day. The 31-year-old appears likely to open the season in the strong side of a platoon in center field.

20 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Chandler Simpson - Expected to play Tuesday Rays manager Kevin Cash said that he expects Simpson (hamstring) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Simpson hasn't played since last Tuesday after experiencing renewed soreness in his left hamstring, which had previously been bothering earlier in camp. After a week-long layoff, Simpson is feeling better and ready to return to game action. Despite being limited to just four spring appearances thus far, Simpson should still have plenty of time to stockpile plate appearances in preparation for the start of the regular season.

20 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jake Fraley - Strong start in Grapefruit League Fraley went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Impact Fraley is off to a nice start this spring, having gone 4-for-13 (.308) with four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base covering seven Grapefruit League outings. The 30-year-old is lined up for a strong-side platoon role in right field to start his first season with the Rays, but he'll likely lose at-bats to Jonny DeLuca versus left-handed pitching. Last regular season, Fraley hit .241 with just six home runs, 23 RBI and four stolen bases across 191 at-bats for Cincinnati and Atlanta.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dom Keegan - Sent to minors The Rays optioned Keegan to minor-league camp Sunday.

Impact Keegan played in seven Grapefruit League games but never got going at the plate, as he finished 1-for-11 with six strikeouts. He should return to Triple-A Durham, where he posted a .735 OPS with 10 homers in 69 games during 2025.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Alex Cook - Optioned to minors The Rays optioned Cook to minor-league camp Sunday.

Impact The 24-year-old was added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster in November but was always a longshot to crack the Opening Day roster. Cook missed some time in 2025 due to injuries but pitched well for Double-A Montgomery when available, finishing with a 2.30 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB over 15.2 innings.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Díaz day to day with sore hand; Mullins, Lux nearing returns PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Add another injury to the list in Rays camp: Veteran designated hitter Yandy Díaz is dealing with a sore left hand....

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

How can defensive wizard Walls stay healthy? Working smarter, not harder PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Assessing the Rays’ shortstop situation back at the Winter Meetings in December, president of baseball operations Er...

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

RHP Zack Littell agrees to 1-year contract with the Washington Nationals, AP source says

Zack Littell has a new home after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals

1 DAY AGO • Associated Press

Nationals in agreement on contract with ex-Reds, Rays 3.81 ERA righty veteran | Sporting News This is a nice depth rotation addition for the Nationals this spring.

1 DAY AGO • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Victor Mesa Jr. - Ready for spring debut Mesa (hamstring) will make his Grapefruit League debut Sunday against Atlanta, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The 24-year-old has apparently been dealing with a hamstring injury but is ready for spring action Sunday. The Rays acquired Mesa from the Marlins in early February, and he's likely to serve as organizational outfield depth and open 2026 at Triple-A Durham.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cedric Mullins - Resumes on-field work Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Mullins is "doing better" in his recovery from back tightness and will take part in an on-field workout Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times...

Impact Mullins last played Tuesday before succumbing to the back injury, but the veteran outfielder looks to be making good progress and is being viewed as day-to-day. Assuming he's able to move past the back issue and play in at least a few more games before the end of the Grapefruit League slate, Mullins should be in good position to begin the season in the strong side of a platoon in center field.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Yandy Díaz - Nursing sore hand Manager Kevin Cash said that Diaz has been out of the Rays' Grapefruit League lineup since Tuesday due to a sore left hand, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Cash downplayed any concern about the injury, noting that Diaz is expected to rest for a couple more days before he begins swinging a bat again Tuesday. If all goes well once he starts swinging, Diaz could check back into the spring lineup later in the week.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect

What's happened and what's in store at the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, March 8.

2 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect

Gavin Lux - Targeting Tuesday return Manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that he expects Lux (upper body) to make his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact General upper-body soreness has kept Lux out of Grapefruit League games up to this point, but he's begun to feel much better over the past several days. After he makes his spring debut, the 28-year-old will have two weeks to prepare before likely beginning the regular season as Tampa Bay's primary second baseman.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Chandler Simpson - Still nursing hamstring Simpson has been held out of Grapefruit League games since Wednesday due to renewed tightness in his left hamstring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Left hamstring tightness pushed Simpson's spring debut into late February, and it appears he still hasn't fully recovered from the injury. However, manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that the Rays are being "overly cautious," and he expects Simpson to return to the lineup relatively soon. The 25-year-old outfielder is 5-for-10 with a stolen base through four games this spring.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Junior Caminero - Sizzling start to spring Caminero went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run for the Dominican Republic in Friday's 12-3 win over Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic.

Impact Caminero looks to have taken his hot bat from spring training into the WBC, considering he's gone 5-for-12 (.417) with five RBI and one walk covering his first five Grapefruit League contests. The 22-year-old slugger was a first-time All-Star in 2025, though it's worth noting that the Rays are returning to pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field in 2026. During last year's regular season, Caminero posted a .953 OPS across 294 at-bats at hitter-friendly Steinbrenner Field as opposed to a .743 OPS over 308 at-bats on the road.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

You must see Junior Caminero's electrifying HR, Dominican Republic WBC celebration Rays slugger Junior Caminero had a celebration for the ages after a tie-breaking home run.

3 DAYS AGO • USATODAY.COM

Jonathan Aranda - Hot hitting this spring Aranda went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run for Mexico in Friday's 8-2 win over Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.

Impact Aranda's hot start to spring training appears to have carried into the WBC -- the first baseman has gone 5-for-13 (.385) with a double and two walks over six Grapefruit League outings. Even with the Rays heading back to pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field in 2026, the 27-year-old should occupy a premium spot in Tampa Bay's lineup to begin the new year. Aranda was a strong four-category fantasy contributor when healthy in 2025, as he hit .316 with 14 homers, 59 RBI and 56 runs scored across 370 regular-season at-bats (106 games).

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

WBC Daily: Shohei-Time in Tokyo; Mexico Rolls; Team USA Wins

What's happened and what's in store at the World Baseball Classic on Friday, March 6.

3 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

WBC Daily: Shohei-Time in Tokyo; Mexico Rolls; Team USA Wins

Rays return to Steinbrenner Field as visitors, and it 'feels a little weird' TAMPA, Fla. -- Taylor Walls couldn’t shake the thought as he walked into George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday afternoon. “I’m like, ‘Man,...

3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

RHP Zack Littell agrees to 1-year contract with the Washington Nationals, AP source says

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect

WBC Daily: Shohei-Time in Tokyo; Mexico Rolls; Team USA Wins

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INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

WBC Daily: Four Teams Advance To Quarterfinals; USA Beats Mexico

2026 World Baseball Classic Bracket, Schedule, Standings

RHP Zack Littell agrees to 1-year contract with the Washington Nationals, AP source says

WBC Daily: Two Walk-Off Homers Cap Off Epic Night; USA, Japan Stay Perfect

WBC Daily: Shohei-Time in Tokyo; Mexico Rolls; Team USA Wins