Tampa Bay Rays News

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...

42 MINS 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.

17 HOURS 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.

18 HOURS 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.

18 HOURS 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.

18 HOURS 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.

19 HOURS 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.

19 HOURS 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.

19 HOURS 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...

20 HOURS 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.

20 HOURS 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.

21 HOURS 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...

22 HOURS 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...

22 HOURS 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.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Rockies Sign Pitcher For $8 Million

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

1 DAY AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Rockies Sign Pitcher For $8 Million

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.

1 DAY 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...

1 DAY 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.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Blake Sabol - Grabs NRI deal with Rays The Rays signed Sabol to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Sabol spent nearly all of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level, slashing just .183/.296/.326 between the Red Sox and White Sox organizations. The 28-year-old is likely to begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Durham, where he'd provide versatile depth with the ability to play catcher, first base and left field.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Guardians should consider reunion with former top prospect who turned into All-Star Although Yandy Díaz's first stint with the Guardians was underwhelming, he's turned into an All-Star with the Rays and should be a Guardians...

2 DAYS AGO • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

Rays acquire outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy from Tigers for cash

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy from the Detroit Tigers for cash

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Tigers Execute Surprising Trade with Rays to Officially Part Ways with Slugger The Detroit Tigers have pulled off a move many have expected for a couple weeks now in an early January trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Accor...

2 DAYS AGO • SI.COM

Rays add outfielder Malloy in trade with Tigers The Rays added to their outfield depth by acquiring Justyn-Henry Malloy in a trade with the Tigers in exchange for cash considerations on Tu...

3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Tigers trade former top prospect to Rays for cash considerations | Sporting News Detroit is moving on from an ex-top prospect.

3 DAYS AGO • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Justyn-Henry Malloy - Traded to Tampa Bay The Rays acquired Malloy from the Tigers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.

Impact Malloy had been designated for assignment and is now on the move to a new organization. The right-handed-hitting Malloy has slashed only .209/.311/.346 in parts of two seasons at the major-league level, but he's hit .250/.397/.423 versus left-handed pitching. Malloy will compete for an Opening Day roster spot with the Rays but does have minor-league options remaining.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Rockies Sign Pitcher For $8 Million

Rays acquire outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy from Tigers for cash

NEWS

SCHEDULE

STANDINGS

STATS

ROSTER

VIDEOS

ODDS

GAME LOG

INJURIES

PLAYER NEWS

2026 MLB Free Agent Signings, Trades: Rockies Sign Pitcher For $8 Million

Rays acquire outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy from Tigers for cash