Yandy Diaz's 2027 deal is official: his $10MM option vested into a guaranteed $13MM after he cleared 500 plate appearances and finished healthy. The 35-year-old hit .293 with 22 homers and led the AL with 180 hits. Cheap for that production. 💰
Cam Booser, 34, started 2026 in the minors and finished with a 1.98 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 41 innings over 42 appearances. Heavy argues the Rays lefty deserves AL Comeback Player of the Year over poll favorite Yordan Alvarez. 🎯
The Rays traded right-hander Evan Reifert to the Astros for cash, per reports. The 27-year-old posted a 2.48 ERA in 46 Triple-A Durham appearances with big strikeout numbers, but control has kept him from a big-league look. 💸
Rays lose rotation depth: Freddy Peralta hit free agency after the World Series loss, and Nick Martinez, an AL All-Star, followed when his mutual option wasn't picked up. Cedric Mullins, who hit .205, also hits the market. Exits stack up. 📉
Infielder Oliver Dunn has elected minor league free agency after the Rays outrighted him off the 40-man roster in September. Acquired from the White Sox in May, he had a .258 OPS in nine games with Tampa Bay and is out of options. 🔎
Rays are pitched two offseason trade ideas after the five-game World Series loss to Milwaukee: Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (41 HR in 2026) and Angels lefty Reid Detmers. Speculation only, with no talks reported. Ambitious wish list. 🎯
Rays' ballpark deal is done, but promises to Hillsborough College students are shrinking: no temporary classrooms or interim parking after all, with shuttles instead. The CBA reportedly sends $80M to the Rays versus $21M in benefits, and relies on voluntary follow-through.
Rays' rotation depth looks thin after Martinez and Peralta hit free agency. Rasmussen, McClanahan, Pepiot, Jax and Seymour form a five-man group, but the farm is light on arms. Re-signing Peralta could cost a franchise-record deal. 💰
Rays declined their half of a mutual option on Cedric Mullins, sending him to free agency with a $500K buyout. Nick Martinez's option was declined too. Mullins hit .205 with a .628 OPS and 15 HRs, while Simpson, DeLuca and Mesa Jr. wait in the outfield. 🔄
Fresh off an AL pennant and a World Series loss to Milwaukee, the Rays head into awards season with Taylor Walls and Chandler Simpson as Gold Glove finalists and Kevin Cash a Manager of the Year contender. Walls could be the first Rays shortstop to win. 🏆
Freddy Peralta is headed to free agency, and he's reportedly expressed a desire to return to the Rays after pitching well following his deadline trade. With Nick Martinez also hitting the market and Drew Rasmussen's club option pending, a reunion fits, though Tampa Bay's market size is a hurdle. 🤝
Rays enter the offseason fresh off a 98-win AL-best season and a pennant, then a 4-1 World Series loss to Milwaukee. Key calls loom: options on Rasmussen, Martinez, Mullins and Walls, plus a big arbitration class. 🔍
The Rays declined mutual options on Nick Martinez and Cedric Mullins, as expected, sending both to free agency. Martinez, "El Presidente," went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 180 innings and was the clubhouse's rock during the AL title run. 🔑
MLB Trade Rumors (Rays): Rays Decline Mutual Option On Cedric Mullins
The Rays' offseason is on: Gavin Lux, Jorge Mateo and Freddy Peralta are free agents, and Nov. 2 brings option decisions on Rasmussen, Martinez, Walls and Mullins. A Dec. 2 CBA expiration could freeze everything with a lockout. 🔒
Speculation around Junior Caminero is already building: the Rays' 42-homer third baseman reportedly wants Soto/Guerrero-level money, and a 28th-ranked payroll could make a trade eventually likelier than an extension. Rays control him through 2030, so nothing is imminent. 💰
Jim Bowden projects Freddy Peralta at 5 years, $140M and Nick Martinez, who declined his $16M player option, at 2 years, $48M. Ex-Rays Arozarena (5 years, $124M), Bauers and Lowe are also on the list. Rays fans have a lot to track. 💰
Appeals court affirmed ex-Rays shortstop Wander Franco's abuse conviction, revoking his judicial pardon and imposing a suspended 3-year sentence with supervision. A visa is now unlikely, so his Rays career looks over, though a Supreme Court appeal remains.
The Brewers closed out the Rays 4-1 in Game 5 of the World Series, so Tampa Bay's run ended there. Milwaukee's catcher William Contreras, the World Series MVP, shut down the Rays' running game and anchors MLB.com's All-Postseason Team. 🏆
Brewers beat the Rays in the World Series, leaving Tampa Bay 0-3 in Fall Classics. CBS Sports still names the defending AL champs next in line for a first title: a dominant Brewers club was the obstacle, and the Rays get the benefit of the doubt. 🏆
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