The Rays used the final minutes before Monday’s deadline to add one more piece, sending catcher Hunter Fuduccia to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money. Right-handed pitcher Jacob Kmatz was also included in the deal heading to Los Angeles.
It was the fourth trade of the day for Tampa Bay, which had already landed Liam Hicks earlier in the afternoon and also made deals for Freddy Peralta and Tyler Wells. By the time the deadline hit, the Rays had checked off outfield depth, bonus pool money, and a full day’s worth of roster movement.
Suwinski brings a solid minor league line with him from Oklahoma City, where he hit .291 with a .948 OPS, plus 21 home runs and 72 RBIs in 2026. He has reached the major league level before, but has not moved beyond Triple-A this season. With the Rays, he looks like another depth option as the club moves into the second half.
That’s a spot Tampa Bay already has some competition for. Cedric Mullins and Chandler Simpson have both improved after rough starts to 2026, and the organization also has Jacob Melton among its MLB-ready outfield options.
Fuduccia heads back to the Dodgers after being dealt to Tampa Bay at last year’s deadline. The former LSU Tiger, who was drafted by Los Angeles in the 12th round of the 2018 MLB draft, struggled in 2026 with the Rays, batting .234 with a .646 OPS, two home runs and 12 RBIs.
The move gives both players a fresh start, and it likely helps Tampa Bay avoid having Fuduccia as a DFA candidate after the addition of Hicks earlier Monday. For Rays general manager Erik Neander, finding a trade partner and adding another outfield option was a productive finish to deadline day.
The deadline has now passed, and Tampa Bay finished with four trades - though the club still did not add the middle-infield depth it had not addressed.
The Rays will take the field on the road trip that starts tonight in Colorado, with a matchup against the Rockies. First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. Eastern.
In Other News...
Rays Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About This Dodgers Deadline Deal
A late deadline move with a familiar feel sent Hunter Feduccia and Jacob Kmatz to Los Angeles as the Dodgers looked for help behind the plate and on the mound after injuries hit catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing. For Tampa Bay, it was another reminder of how quickly the roster churn can work this time of year, especially when a player like Feduccia comes full circle after already spending time in the Dodgers organization before landing with the Rays.
The return centered on outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money, which gives Tampa Bay a different kind of asset to work with as it keeps managing both the present roster and the pipeline behind it. Kmatz, a recent Rays draft pick, adds another layer of short-term sting to the deal for fans who like to track the development side as closely as the major league results, and this one figures to prompt plenty of second-guessing on both ends. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Catcher Shuffle Created An Opportunity Kevin Piper Wont Forget
The Rays catching depth took another unexpected turn this week, and it opened the door for a moment Kevin Piper is not likely to forget. Tampa Bay had just acquired Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins, only for Hicks to arrive in Denver a day late, and the club had also sent Hunter Feduccia to the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving a temporary void behind the plate as the team settled in at Coors Field.
With the Rays needing coverage in a hurry, Piper was pulled from standby and given the kind of chance players wait around for. He was on the scene but still not officially called up when manager Kevin Cash reached out and got him over to the ballpark, and Piper ended up starting a game in one of baseballs most unpredictable settings. For a catcher caught in a sudden shuffle, it was the sort of assignment that can linger long after the trip ends. [Read more 🡒]