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Tampa Bay Rays

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Osvaldo Bido Osvaldo Bido Claimed by Tampa Bay Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:29 PM The Rays claimed Bido off waivers from Atlanta on Friday. Analysis: Bido has now bounced around via waivers from the Athletics to Atlanta and now to the Rays this month. The right-hander had an unsightly 5.87 ERA and 18.7 percent strikeout rate in 2025, but he was much better in 2024 with a 3.41 ERA and 24.3 percent strikeout rate. Bido does not have minor-league options left, but he offers the flexibility to be used either in a starting or relief role.
Jacob Melton Jacob Melton Shipped to Tampa Bay Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 1:11 PM The Rays acquired Melton and Anderson Brito from the Astros on Friday in a three-team trade that sent Mike Burrows to the Astros and Brandon Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to the Pirates, Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report. Analysis: Melton was one of Houston's top prospects, and the 25-year-old got his first taste of MLB action last season, appearing in 32 games for the Astros. The outfielder slashed .157/.234/.186 with one triple, seven RBI, seven runs scored, seven stolen bases and a 6:29 BB:K across 78 big-league plate appearances. He figures to initially slot into Tampa Bay's outfield mix behind Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Josh Lowe and potentially even Jake Fraley.
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Avoids arbitration with Rays Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 3:12 PM The Rays and McClanahan (triceps) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.6 million contract Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: It's the same salary McClanahan was paid each of the last two seasons. The left-hander did not pitch at all in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was limited to only three rehab starts in 2025 due to a nerve issue in his left triceps that eventually required surgery. The expectation is that McClanahan will be ready for the start of spring training, but he's a major health risk heading into the 2026 season.
Steven Matz Steven Matz Will get another chance to start Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 8:40 AM Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Matz will be given a chance to open the season in the rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Neander said that Matz -- whose two-year, $15 million contract became official Tuesday -- has "a real desire" to be a starting pitcher again, and the "the investment was made with that in mind." All but two of Matz's 53 regular-season appearances in 2025 came out of the bullpen, but the 34-year-old has predominantly been a starter in his career. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 59:11 K:BB over 76.2 regular-season frames between the Cardinals and Red Sox this past season.
Tristan Peters Tristan Peters Cut from 40-man roster Tue, Dec 16, 2025, 3:22 PM The Rays designated Peters for assignment Tuesday. Analysis: The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Steven Matz, whose signing was made official Tuesday. Peters went 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts during his brief time with the Rays in 2025 and slashed .266/.355/.429 at Triple-A Durham. He stands a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.
Steven Matz Steven Matz Latches on with Tampa Bay Mon, Dec 8, 2025, 10:20 PM Matz agreed to a two-year contract with the Rays on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Analysis: Matz will suit up for the sixth different team in his veteran career after coming to terms on what's believed to be a multi-year contract with Tampa Bay. The southpaw was used in a variety of scenarios during the 2025 campaign with Boston and St. Louis, which included him securing the first two saves of his big-league career in five chances. Matz will presumably be in store for high-leverage opportunities in 2026 with the Rays.
Yoniel Curet Yoniel Curet Designated for assignment Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 4:39 PM The Rays designated Curet for assignment Saturday. Analysis: The 23-year-old righty will depart the Rays' 40-man roster in order to make room for Cedric Mullins, whose signing was made official Saturday. Curet turned in a 1.45 ERA over 18.2 innings in Double-A this past season but struggled upon being promoted to Triple-A, where he accumulated a 6.03 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over 31.1 frames.
Cedric Mullins Cedric Mullins Inks one-year pact with Rays Wed, Dec 3, 2025, 5:00 PM Mullins signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: 2025 marked one of Mullins' worst seasons at the plate in the majors, as he finished the year with a .216/.299/.391 batting line over 498 plate appearances alongside 17 homers, 59 RBI, 58 runs scored and 22 steals. With fellow lefty-hitting outfielders Chandler Simpson, Jake Fraley and Josh Lowe already in Tampa Bay, Mullins may have a hard time securing an everyday role with the Rays.
Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Part of Rays' closer-by-committee Tue, Dec 2, 2025, 3:36 PM 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. Analysis: 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 Manuel 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.
Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Likely part of closer committee Tue, Dec 2, 2025, 3:29 PM Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger and Griffin Jax are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays next season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Pete Fairbanks easily paced the Rays with 27 saves in 2025, but he is a free agent after the team declined his $11 million option. That leaves a vacancy in the ninth inning, and it seems the Rays plan to fill that void with multiple arms. Uceta finished with a 3.79 ERA in 2025, but he had a 32.1 percent strikeout rate and boasts a 33.3 percent strikeout rate in his two seasons with Tampa Bay.
Garrett Cleavinger Garrett Cleavinger Will be part of closer committee Tue, Dec 2, 2025, 3:22 PM Cleavinger, Griffin Jax 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. Analysis: The Rays elected to decline Pete Fairbanks' $11 million option, and the plan for now is to fill that ninth-inning vacancy with multiple players. Cleavinger had the best season of his career in 2025, holding a 2.35 ERA and 82:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings. The lefty has neutral splits, so he should not be at a matchup disadvantage when it comes to who manager Kevin Cash chooses to deploy in save situations.
Jake Fraley Jake Fraley Back with Rays on one-year deal Tue, Nov 25, 2025, 2:42 PM The Rays re-signed Fraley to a one-year, $3 million contract Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: The Rays non-tendered Fraley last week, but he's now back on a new one-year pact. Fraley has never had more than 382 plate appearances in a major-league season, in part due to injury issues but also due to the left-handed hitter's career .508 OPS versus lefty pitchers. The 30-year-old does have a career .261/.344/.432 batting line against righties, though, and will be part of Tampa Bay's outfield mix in 2026.
Cole Sulser Cole Sulser Avoids arbitration with Rays Fri, Nov 21, 2025, 1:20 PM The Rays and Sulser avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.05 million contract, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Sulser receives a small raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Slated to turn 36 in March, Sulser made 18 appearances out of the Rays' bullpen in 2025, collecting a 1.99 ERA and 22:7 K:BB over 22.2 innings. He'll likely fill a middle relief role in 2026.
Jake Woodford Jake Woodford Nabs NRI deal with Rays Fri, Nov 21, 2025, 12:08 PM The Rays signed Woodford to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Friday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. Analysis: Woodford made 22 relief appearances for the Diamondbacks this season, posting a 6.44 ERA and 23:13 K:BB over 36.1 frames. The 29-year-old right will compete for a spot on the Rays' Opening Day roster but is likely to begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Durham.
John Rooney John Rooney Signs MiLB deal with Rays Wed, Nov 19, 2025, 9:39 AM The Rays signed Rooney (elbow) to a minor-league contract Nov. 15. Analysis: Rooney elected free agency earlier this month after being removed from the Astros' 40-man roster, and he's quickly landed in a new organization. The lefty reliever had elbow surgery in September, though the specific nature of the procedure and a recovery timeline aren't clear. Rooney made one appearance for Houston but spent most of 2025 at the Triple-A level, holding a 2.56 ERA and 55:24 K:BB over 38.2 frames.
Steven Wilson Steven Wilson Joins Rays' bullpen Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 7:42 PM The White Sox traded Wilson and Yoendrys Gomez to Tampa Bay on Tuesday in exchange for Tanner Murray and Everson Pereira (back), Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Wilson is a veteran reliever who got into a career-high 59 games with Chicago last season, recording a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings. He notched two saves and nine holds but was also charged with seven blown saves. Wilson should bolster Tampa Bay's relief corps but is unlikely to be a high-leverage option for the team.
Yoendrys Gomez Yoendrys Gomez Shipped to Tampa Bay Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 7:34 PM The White Sox traded Gomez and Steven Wilson to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Everson Pereira (back) and Tanner Murray, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Gomez joined the White Sox last May as a waiver-wire claim from the Dodgers, who had previously claimed him off waivers from the Yankees. The right-hander ended up appearing in 12 contests (including nine starts) for Chicago, posting a 4.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB over 48.1 innings. Gomez mostly worked as a starter during his time in the minors, but Tampa Bay may elect to use him out of the bullpen.
Jake Fraley Jake Fraley Designated for assignment Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 6:33 PM The Rays designated Fraley (oblique) for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Timesreports. Analysis: The veteran outfielder was claimed off waivers by the Rays in early November but has already lost his place on the 40-man roster. Fraley finished the season on the IL due to an oblique strain and totaled 76 games between Atlanta and Cincinnati. He had a .241/.332/.382 slash line with six home runs and four steals in 217 plate appearances.
Christopher Morel Christopher Morel DFA'd by Tampa Bay Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 6:31 PM The Rays designated Morel for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Analysis: Morel played in 105 games for the Rays last season but was inconsistent at the plate with a .219/.289/.396 slash line and 35.7 percent strikeout rate in 105 plate appearances. The 26-year-old clubbed 26 homers with an .821 OPS for the Cubs in 2023 but posted a .651 OPS over the past two seasons.
Luis Guerrero Luis Guerrero Dealt to Rays Tue, Nov 18, 2025, 12:32 PM The Rays acquired Guerrero from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Tristan Gray. Analysis: Guerrero was outrighted off Boston's 40-man roster last week after passing through waivers unclaimed, but now he's on the move to a new organization. The right-hander holds a 2.63 ERA but a 19:16 K:BB across 27.1 frames covering parts of two major-league seasons. Guerrero has a big arm and the Rays will now be tasked with getting him to throw more strikes, which is something they've had success with as an organization with other hurlers.