Could the Rays Turn to Kansas City’s Michael Massey to Fill Their Second Base Void?
The Tampa Bay Rays don’t usually make headlines with blockbuster deals or flashy free-agent signings - that’s just not their style. But what they do have is a track record of shrewd, forward-thinking moves that often pay off in the long run. So when they shipped off second baseman Brandon Lowe, along with outfielder Jake Mangum and pitcher Mason Montgomery, to the Pittsburgh Pirates, it raised more than a few eyebrows.
Lowe wasn’t just another name on the roster - he was a key left-handed bat in the lineup, coming off a season where he launched 31 home runs and earned another All-Star nod. That kind of production doesn’t just grow on trees, and the Rays don’t currently have a clear replacement waiting in the wings. The departure leaves a noticeable hole at second base, and while Tampa Bay is known for its creative roster solutions, even their depth doesn’t offer a plug-and-play answer here.
That’s where the Kansas City Royals might come into the picture - specifically, second baseman Michael Massey.
Why Massey Makes Sense for Tampa Bay
Let’s be clear: Massey isn’t coming off a season that’ll have him in MVP conversations. In fact, 2025 was a rough one for the 27-year-old.
Injuries limited him to just 77 games, and when he was on the field, the results were underwhelming - a .244/.268/.313 slash line and a 57 wRC+ across 277 plate appearances. Not exactly eye-popping.
But here’s the thing: Tampa Bay isn’t looking for a star. They’re looking for value - upside, versatility, and cost control. Massey checks all three boxes.
He’s entering his age-28 season, theoretically in his athletic prime, and he’s under team control for three more years. That’s the kind of profile the Rays have built their roster around for years. And while his back issues and recent availability raise some red flags, there’s still reason to believe there’s untapped potential in Massey’s game - especially in the right environment.
A Fit at the Trop?
Tampa Bay leans heavily into matchups and platoons, and they already have switch-hitter Taylor Walls in the mix. But beyond Walls, the Rays’ second base depth chart drops off quickly. Massey wouldn’t need to be a full-time solution right away - in fact, he’d fit perfectly into a flexible, matchup-driven role that could allow him to find his rhythm without the pressure of carrying the load.
And there’s reason to believe the Trop could unlock more from Massey’s bat.
Despite his struggles in 2025, it wasn’t long ago that Massey flashed some real promise. In 2024, he posted a 104 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR in just 100 games - a solid, if unspectacular, showing that hinted at more. His offensive game is built around pull-side power and line drives, and that’s where things get interesting.
Massey’s career Pull Air% sits at 26%, nearly 10 percentage points above league average. He’s shown he can do damage when he gets the ball in the air to right field - and Tropicana Field, with its friendlier right-field dimensions, could be just the place for that skill set to flourish.
In fact, based on expected home run data, if Massey had played his entire career in Tampa Bay, he’d have 44 homers instead of the 29 he’s hit in Kansas City. That’s a significant difference - and one the Rays front office is surely aware of.
And it’s not just the Trop. Massey’s power plays well across the AL East, with expected home run totals of 50 at Yankee Stadium and 43 at Camden Yards. That’s the kind of park profile that could make him a sneaky-valuable addition in a division where every edge matters.
Why Kansas City Might Listen
On the Royals’ side, there’s a different kind of problem: too many second basemen, not enough differentiation.
Between Massey, Jonathan India, Nick Loftin, and a few others, Kansas City has a glut of middle infielders who fall into the same general tier - capable, but not irreplaceable. That kind of redundancy often leads to opportunity, and Massey might be the odd man out.
He’s still got some trade value, especially if teams are willing to look past his 2025 numbers and instead focus on what he showed in 2024. Whether it’s as part of a larger package or a one-for-one deal involving prospects, the Royals could afford to move him without taking a major step back.
And for Tampa Bay, that’s the sweet spot. A player with tools they like, coming off a down year, in a situation where his current team might be willing to deal from surplus - it’s practically the Rays’ playbook.
Final Thoughts
This wouldn’t be a headline-grabbing trade. It wouldn’t dominate winter meetings or spark endless social media debates. But it would be classic Tampa Bay - identifying a need, finding a fit, and betting on a bounce-back.
Massey may not be a household name, but in the right system, with the right usage, he could quietly become a key piece in the Rays’ 2026 puzzle. And if there’s any team that knows how to extract value from under-the-radar talent, it’s the one that just traded away an All-Star second baseman and still might come out ahead.
Don’t be surprised if the Rays and Royals pick up the phone in the coming weeks. This one just makes too much sense not to explore.