The Rays made waves on Friday with a pair of trades that sent Brandon Lowe, Shane Baz, Jake Mangum, and Mason Montgomery packing in exchange for six prospects and a draft pick. And while the influx of young talent helps stock the farm, it also opens up a pretty big question heading into 2026: who’s going to be the everyday second baseman?
Right now, there’s no clear-cut answer - and that seems to be by design.
Let’s start with the most obvious internal candidate: Richie Palacios. The 28-year-old has some experience at second base, both in the majors (33 starts) and across the minors and winter ball (127 starts).
He’s a solid athlete, gets on base, and can hold his own defensively. But there’s a catch - he’s struggled to stay on the field.
Palacios played just 17 games last season due to lingering right knee issues, and he’s logged only 109 games over the past two years combined. The Rays like him, but he’s got to prove he can stay healthy before they hand him the keys.
“We really appreciate Richie, but he’s got to prove healthy,” said Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander. “He’s certainly a candidate internally, but we’re going to give ourselves a little bit of time to sort through it.”
And time is something the Rays have. Opening Day is still three months away, which gives the front office some breathing room to evaluate both internal options and potential external fits.
Neander emphasized the importance of staying flexible and responsive to what other teams are trying to do - a classic Rays approach. They’re not rushing into anything, and they don’t have to.
That said, the trade of Lowe and Baz freed up about $14.5 million in payroll, giving Tampa Bay a little more financial wiggle room. Their projected payroll sits between $85 million and $90 million, so there’s space to make a move - if the right one comes along.
“I want to be careful to manage expectations,” Neander added. “But it does create some possibilities... you do have some financial flexibility to play with.
But you don’t want to force it. You want to make sure it’s the right fit for your group.”
So what are the Rays’ options beyond Palacios?
There’s always the possibility of getting creative with the current roster. One intriguing idea is shifting Chandler Simpson back to second base.
The speedy prospect played there in college, and while his outfield defense is still a work in progress, he took ground balls at second as recently as September. He’s raw, but the athleticism is there.
Taylor Walls could also slide over from shortstop, especially if the Rays bring in a veteran to handle that position. But Walls is a defensive standout at short - one of the best gloves in the game - so moving him might not be the best use of his skill set.
Another name to keep in mind is Jonathan Aranda, who has logged 23 big-league games at second base. He’s primarily been at first lately, but in a pinch, the Rays could look at him as an option.
Of course, the Rays could go shopping. The biggest name on the trade market is Ketel Marte, a three-time All-Star with the kind of offensive profile that’s hard to ignore. Over the past three seasons, he’s averaged 30 home runs, 83 RBIs, and an .887 OPS - numbers that would help offset the power void left by Lowe, who averaged 34 homers per 162 games when healthy.
Marte’s contract is hefty - $102.5 million over the next six years, with some of that deferred - but the Rays now have both the young talent to offer in a deal and the payroll space to make it work. He doesn’t get truly expensive until 2028, and his 2026 salary ($15 million) is almost a wash with what the Rays just cleared.
Still, there are concerns. Marte is 32, has had some clubhouse issues in the past, and committing long-term money isn’t something the Rays typically do lightly.
Other trade possibilities include Brendan Donovan (Cardinals) and Nico Hoerner (Cubs), both of whom could be fits depending on how aggressive their teams are willing to be. The free-agent market?
Not exactly brimming with everyday second basemen. Outside of Bo Bichette - whose availability is questionable at best - it’s mostly utility types like Luis Arraez, Willi Castro, Jose Iglesias, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Adam Frazier, Jorge Mateo, and former Ray Luis Rengifo.
The truth is, the Rays probably aren’t going to find a one-for-one replacement for Lowe’s power. But they can look to upgrade defensively, and they can try to build a more balanced lineup with better health and flexibility. That’s the Rays’ way - find value, stay nimble, and don’t overcommit unless the fit is perfect.
“A lot of right now is about just trying to figure out how to get as much talent in the organization - now, later, ideally an optimal combination of both,” Neander said. “And we’ll work our way towards being as functional as possible as we hit camp and march towards the end of March.”
So who’s playing second base for the Rays in 2026? The answer, for now, is TBD.
But if we’ve learned anything about this front office, it’s that they don’t make decisions in December just to check a box. They’ll wait for the right move - and when they strike, it’ll be one that fits their long-term vision.