| News |
|---|
|
Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Headed to doctor after setback
Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 11:58 AM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Uceta (shoulder) will visit the doctor after he "didn't feel great" the longer he played catch Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Uceta reported to camp with a sore shoulder and has now encountered a setback. More will be know following Uceta's visit to the doctor, but even if he doesn't have structural damage he will need time to get built up. A stint on the injured list to begin the season looks like a distinct possibility. Uceta, if healthy, is among the Rays relievers in the mix to serve as closer this season. |
|
Drew Rasmussen Drew Rasmussen Named Opening Day starter
Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 8:24 AM
The Rays have named Rasmussen their Opening Day starter, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Rasmussen was excellent in 2025 in his first full season back from elbow surgery, collecting a 2.76 ERA and 127:37 K:BB over 150 innings covering 31 starts. He had his workload carefully monitored last season but should have the reins loosened in 2026. That said, given that Rasmussen has undergone three major elbow surgeries, he's unlikely to ever be a workhorse. His Opening Day assignment will come March 26 in St. Louis. |
|
Richie Palacios Richie Palacios Will see reps at hot corner
Mon, Feb 16, 2026, 5:33 PM
Palacios will see some time at third base during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Palacios has shown versatility during his major-league career, where he has seen most of his playing time in the outfield corners and at second base. He should get a fair amount of playing time at the keystone behind Gavin Lux. Although Palacios has played third base in just two major-league games, the Rays expanding his utility in order to improve his chances of making the Opening Day roster. Palacios slashed .333/396/.452 with four steals, one home run and three RBI across 48 plate appearances for Tampa Bay in 2025. |
|
Hunter Bigge Hunter Bigge Healthy ahead of spring training
Sun, Feb 15, 2026, 10:19 PM
Bigge (face) threw live batting practice Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: After pitching eight games in the Dominican Winter League, Bigge appears to be just about all the way back from the multiple facial fractures he suffered when he was hit by a foul ball in June of last year. The 27-year-old right-hander said Sunday that he's fully cleared medically, and the expectation is that Bigge will be competing for a spot in Tampa Bay's Opening Day bullpen during upcoming Grapefruit League play. |
|
Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Out for World Baseball Classic
Sun, Feb 15, 2026, 9:01 AM
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that Uceta arrived at camp with a "cranky shoulder" and won't be available to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic as a result, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Cash labeled the decision to pull Uceta out of the WBC as precautionary and indicated that the Rays fully expect the right-hander to be ready to go for Opening Day. The team heads into the upcoming season without a set closer after letting Pete Fairbanks walk in free agency, and Uceta could factor into the team's late-inning mix if his shoulder isn't a concern. The 28-year-old netted one save and 21 holds over 70 appearances last season while racking up an impressive 103 strikeouts across 76 frames. |
|
Jonny DeLuca Jonny DeLuca In line for short-side role
Sat, Feb 14, 2026, 8:54 PM
DeLuca (hamstring/quad) is likely to see regular at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, per John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times.
Analysis: DeLuca stands out as one of Tampa Bay's few right-handed-hitting outfielders, considering the club's primary options consist of as lefty-hitters Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley. DeLuca ended the 2025 season on the 60-day injured list due to a right quadriceps strain, so he'll need to prove he's healthy during spring training before the Rays trust him to handle this role. The 27-year-old posted a promising .812 OPS with six stolen bases through 59 regular-season plate appearances amidst an injury-ruined 2025 campaign, and it doesn't sound like he'll open the new year in a spot for everyday action. |
|
Manuel Rodriguez Manuel Rodriguez Placed on 60-day IL
Tue, Feb 10, 2026, 5:14 PM
The Rays placed Rodriguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Analysis: Rodriguez underwent surgery in July to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow, and he will now return to the IL to begin 2026 while he finishes up his rehab. His place on the 40-man roster will be filled by Nick Martinez, who signed a one-year deal with the Rays on Monday. |
|
Shane McClanahan Shane McClanahan Looking healthy for camp
Mon, Feb 9, 2026, 12:24 PM
Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder said Monday that McClanahan (triceps) has looked "really, really good" this offseason and is being "totally built up to start with the expectation" he'll be in Tampa Bay's rotation, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Analysis: "The last six or eight weeks have been really, really good," Snyder said. "I think we'll consider the math in terms of the season and where he slots, but he's being totally built up to start, with the expectation that he'll be in our rotation." McClanahan hasn't thrown a regular-season pitch for the Rays since the 2023 campaign and was limited to just two rehab starts last season before eventually requiring season-ending surgery to repair a nerve issue in his triceps in August. McClanahan carries significant risk but also has immense upside as a fantasy target. |
|
Nick Martinez Nick Martinez Signs with Tampa Bay
Mon, Feb 9, 2026, 10:43 AM
The Rays signed Martinez to a one-year, $13 million contract Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Martinez will turn 36 years old later this summer and pitched in 40 games for the Reds last season, making 26 starts. He posted a 4.45 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 116:42 K:BB across a career-high 165.2 innings. Capable of starting or working out of the bullpen, Martinez is expected to be part of the Rays' rotation, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. |
|
Brett Wisely Brett Wisely DFA'd by Rays
Fri, Feb 6, 2026, 2:51 PM
The Rays designated Wisely for assignment on Friday, the team announced.
Analysis: Tampa Bay acquired Victor Mesa from the Marlins via trade. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, Wisely was designated for assignment. The 26-year-old spent time with San Francisco and Atlanta last season, appearing in 26 MLB games and posting a .594 OPS. He slashed .253/.332/.387 across 342 plate appearances with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in 2025. |
|
Victor Mesa Jr. Victor Mesa Jr. Joining Rays
Fri, Feb 6, 2026, 1:51 PM
The Rays acquired Mesa from the Marlins on Friday in exchange for Angel Brachi.
Analysis: Mesa made his big-league debut in 2025, appearing in 16 games with the Marlins and slashing .188/.297/.344 across 38 plate appearances. The 24-year-old had a strong .887 OPS across 171 plate appearances at Triple-A Jacksonville in 2025. The young outfielder will look to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster. |
|
Edwin Uceta Edwin Uceta Emerges victorious in arb. hearing
Fri, Feb 6, 2026, 1:35 PM
Uceta will earn $1.525 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against the Rays, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The Rays had offered Uceta $1.2 million. He will have three more years of arbitration eligibility. Uceta put up a 3.79 ERA and a 32.1 percent strikeout rate last season with the Rays and is expected to be part of a closer-by-committee during the upcoming season. |
|
Taylor Walls Taylor Walls Could begin season as top shortstop
Tue, Feb 3, 2026, 10:50 PM
Walls (sports hernia) appears to be in position to begin the season as Tampa Bay's top shortstop, per Adam Berry of MLB.com.
Analysis: With spring training on the horizon, Walls is set to compete primarily with top prospect Carson Williams for everyday reps at shortstop. Walls is coming off sports hernia surgery, which ended his 2025 campaign in August, so he'll need to prove he's healthy during Grapefruit League play as well. Even in a potential full-time role, the switch-hitting infielder could struggle for fantasy relevance after slashing just .220/.280/.319 with four home runs, 38 RBI, 36 runs scored and 14 stolen bases across 317 regular-season plate appearances (101 games) last year. |
|
Ken Waldichuk Ken Waldichuk Booted from 40-man roster
Mon, Feb 2, 2026, 8:38 PM
Waldichuk was designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Waldichuk will lose out on his 40-man roster spot to make room for the addition of Ben Williamson, who was acquired earlier Monday from Seattle. Waldichuk spent the majority of his 2025 season at Triple-A, posting an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP across 51.0 innings (15 starts). |
|
Ben Williamson Ben Williamson Heading to Tampa Bay
Mon, Feb 2, 2026, 4:18 PM
The Rays acquired Williamson from the Mariners on Monday as part of a three-team trade involving the Cardinals, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Analysis: Brendan Donovan is headed to Seattle as part of the deal. Williams is a glove-first third baseman who slashed just .253/.294/.310 with one homer in 85 regular-season games for the Mariners in 2025. He is now stuck behind Junior Caminero in Tampa Bay, so Williamson could begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Durham. |
|
Brody Hopkins Brody Hopkins Nets spring training invite
Fri, Jan 30, 2026, 11:14 AM
The Rays have extended Hopkins an invitation to big-league camp in spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Hopkins was excellent at Double-A Montgomery this past season, collecting a 2.72 ERA and 141:60 K:BB over 116 innings. He has some of the best stuff of any pitching prospect in baseball and could become a legitimate ace if he's able to throw enough strikes. Hopkins isn't going to break camp with the big club, but there's a good chance he will debut at some point in 2026. |
|
Cam Booser Cam Booser Latches on with Rays
Tue, Jan 27, 2026, 12:57 PM
The Rays signed Booser to a minor-league contract Monday.
Analysis: Booser was non-tendered by the White Sox earlier this offseason after finishing with a 5.52 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 35:19 K:BB over 31 innings during the 2025 campaign. The Rays will retain control of the lefty reliever through the 2030 season. |
|
Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Taking over at second base
Fri, Jan 16, 2026, 12:23 PM
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Friday that Lux will be the team's primary second baseman this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Analysis: Most of Lux's starts last season with the Reds came in left field and the designated hitter slot, but second base has been his primary position in the big leagues and the Rays had a clear hole at the keystone. The move from Cincinnati to Tampa Bay is a big ballpark downgrade for Lux, but he could play more for the Rays than he had been projected to for the Reds. Lux slashed .269/.350/.374 with five home runs in 140 regular-season tilts for Cincinnati in 2025. |
|
Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Traded to Rays
Thu, Jan 15, 2026, 9:22 PM
Lux was traded from the Reds to the Rays in a three-team deal Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Lux is set to play out his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026, making it surprising that the Rays seemingly targeted him in this deal. He should have a strong chance to serve on the large side of a platoon at second base, though his chances of seeing any amount of at-bats against lefties decreased with this move. |
|
Osvaldo Bido Osvaldo Bido Jettisoned from 40-man roster
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 5:04 PM
The Rays designated Bido for assignment Monday.
Analysis: 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. |
Connect With Us:
