The Rays don’t have a blank slate heading into 2027, but they do have a roster puzzle to solve. Even after a season that ended with a five-game World Series loss to the Brewers, Tampa Bay can still point to a group of core pieces and a farm system that keeps feeding the machine. The challenge now is turning that depth into enough certainty, especially on the mound.
Start with the rotation picture. Freddy Peralta is on the way to free agency, while Drew Rasmussen’s $8 million team option stands out as a bargain if the Rays choose to exercise it.
Beyond that, the health flags are impossible to ignore. Shane McClanahan was shut down late because of left forearm tightness, and Ryan Pepiot missed most of 2026 after right hip surgery.
Both are expected back for 2027, but the Rays still need insurance and another reliable starter to keep the group from feeling thin.
The bullpen could help cover some of that ground, and Griffin Jax is expected to fill one spot. Even so, Tampa Bay may look at its prospect stash and use part of that enviable depth to go get another young starter.
If there’s one prospect who looks ready to push the conversation forward, it’s Theo Gillen. The outfielder broke out in 2026 and put himself on the map with a .315/.419/.546 line, 22 home runs and 44 steals across High-A and Double-A, all while providing plus defense.
He brings contact, impact and athleticism, with the main caveat being his work against lefthanded pitching. Gillen will be 21 for all of 2027, and his timetable will depend on how aggressively Tampa Bay wants to move him.
Caden Bodine is another name with a clear case for impact. Acquired from the Orioles in the Shane Baz trade, the catcher climbed four levels and finished the year on the taxi squad in the Tampa Bay dugout.
He struck out only 34 times in 117 games, hit .342/.410/.517 and showed there may not be much left to prove in the minors. The Rays could be looking at a long-term pairing with Liam Hicks behind the plate.
Brody Hopkins brings a different kind of appeal. He has some of the best raw stuff in the minors, and he made his major league debut in September, punching out seven over 5.1 innings.
Command has been the issue throughout his career, and Tampa Bay will likely give him one more look as a starter in 2027. If that doesn’t click, the bullpen remains a real path to impact.
There’s more depth behind them. Jacob Melton’s first season with the Rays, after coming over from the Astros in the 2025 offseason, was limited to 50 games by injuries, but he looked better at the plate when healthy and should be part of the outfield mix as depth next year. Ty Johnson impressed in September out of the bullpen after starting in Triple-A, and he looks like a relief profile long term as a two-pitch arm who could help throughout 2027.
Alexander Alberto is one of the more interesting wild cards. The White Sox picked him in the Rule 5 draft last offseason before he returned to the Rays this spring, and he turned in a strong year between Double-A and Triple-A: a 3.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 72 strikeouts and 25 walks in 60.1 innings.
He stands 6-foot-8 and brings outlier stuff, including a high-90s cutter and mid-80s sweeper. He’s a minor league free agent after the season, so Tampa Bay has to act fast if it wants to keep him in the fold.
Xavier Isaac remains a power bat the Rays will keep trying to shape. He made some adjustments as the season went on to get to more contact, and he has both patience and premium pop. The strikeout rate is still a concern - it sits around 30% - but the upside is obvious enough for Tampa Bay to keep putting him in spots where he can succeed.
Jadher Areinamo also has a path to a role in 2027, even after a down season at the plate in which he hit .240/.282/.407. He’s already on the 40-man roster and can handle shortstop, second base and third base. The ceiling may not be loud, but the glove gives him a real chance to stick as a contact-and-defense bench piece.
Then there’s the big swing for the future: Grady Emerson. Tampa Bay took him second overall in this year’s draft, and his first taste of pro ball was rough at .176/.283/.216.
Still, the traits are exactly what teams want in a high school shortstop. He’s athletic, has a projectable frame, a smooth swing and the ability to grow into more power.
Defensively, he shows soft hands, good actions, plus range and enough arm for the position. The debut numbers were ugly, but the experience matters, and his ceiling is among the highest in the organization.
The free-agent list is short but meaningful. Yandy Díaz is a pending free agent at DH/1B, while Freddy Peralta is also headed to the market. Rasmussen has that team option, and Nick Martinez carries a mutual option.
As for the lineup Tampa Bay is projecting for 2027, it has Liam Hicks at catcher, Jonathan Aranda at first, Richie Palacios at second, Junior Caminero at third, Taylor Walls at shortstop, Chandler Simpson in left, Jonny DeLuca in center, Victor Mesa Jr. in right and Ryan Vilade at DH.
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