The Tampa Bay Rays once again approached the offseason with its typical strategy — maximize value, avoid long-term financial commitments and quietly reshape its roster.
The results may not appear flashy, and the overall plan can be difficult to decipher, but a decade of success suggests the Rays will remain competitive in 2026.
The Rays use every offseason as an opportunity to retool and get the absolute most production possible without ever having to break the bank.
KEY ADDITIONS:
- OF Cedric Mullins (free agency)
- UTL Gavin Lux (trade)
- INF Ben Williamson (trade)
- RHP Nick Martinez (free agency)
- LHP Steven Matz (free agency)
KEY DEPARTURES:
- RHP Shane Baz (trade)
- INF Brandon Lowe (trade)
- OF Josh Lowe (trade)
- OF Jake Mangum (trade)
- RHP Adrian Houser (free agency)
While the moves lack headline appeal, Tampa Bay added useful major league pieces and further strengthened its consistently deep farm system this offseason.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK:
2025 MLB ranks: AVG (9th), OBP (19th), OPS (14th), HR (16th), wRC+ (98, 16th)
THE CONSTANT: JUNIOR CAMINERO
Junior Caminero established himself as one of the game’s fastest rising stars in 2025. At just 22, he slashed .264/.311/.535 with 45 home runs across 154 games, then impressed on the international stage with the Dominican Republic, posting a 1.259 OPS in World Baseball Classic play. He is the clear centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s lineup.
STARTING PITCHING OUTLOOK:
2025 MLB ranks: ERA (15th), WHIP (9th), K/9 (17th), FIP (21st)
Tampa Bay’s 2025 pitching numbers require context. Forced to play at Steinbrenner Field after hurricane damage to Tropicana Field, the Rays operated in one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly environments. A return to pitcher-friendly conditions in St. Petersburg should lead to improvement.
THE ACE: DREW RASMUSSEN
The Rays’ true ace is certainly up for debate, but for our money, that nod should go to Drew Rasmussen. Healthy for a full season, Rasmussen delivered a 2.76 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 31 starts last year, even with the ballpark disadvantage. With a career 2.89 ERA, he remains one of the most underrated starters in the sport.
EMERGING FORCE: RYAN PEPIOT
Acquired in the Tyler Glasnow deal, Ryan Pepiot continued his development with a 3.86 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 167.2 innings. In Tampa Bay’s pitching infrastructure, his trajectory remains promising.
THE X-FACTOR: SHANE MCCLANAHAN
The ultimate determining factor in how good this Rays team can be will be what they get out of Shane McClanahan. At full strength, he profiles as a top-tier arm, but durability questions and a likely innings limit create uncertainty.
BIGGEST STRENGTH: THE BULLPEN
Tampa Bay’s bullpen projects as the foundation of this roster. The Rays ranked 12th in ERA, sixth in WHIP and second in strikeout rate in 2025, and the group appears deeper this season.
Griffin Jax is the favorite to close after posting strong underlying metrics following his midseason arrival. Setup options such as Edwin Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger and former Oriole Bryan Baker give the Rays a deep and effective late-inning mix.
AREA OF CONCERN: LINEUP DEPTH
While the top of the lineup is solid — led by the aforementioned Caminero, Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda — depth remains a concern for Tampa Bay.
The departures of Brandon Lowe and others leave uncertainty in the middle and bottom of the order. Another former Oriole in Cedric Mullins brings defensive value but has been inconsistent offensively, and Gavin Lux’s upside is far from guaranteed.
Beyond that, the lineup features several hitters who project below league average, which could limit overall run production.
FINAL PROJECTIONS:
Projected Record: 80–82
Division Finish: 5th Place
The Rays should hover around .500 throughout the season. In a less competitive division, that profile might be enough to contend for a postseason berth. In the AL East, however, Tampa Bay is more likely to fall short for a second consecutive year.
What are your expectations for the Tampa Bay Rays this season? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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