The Rays got a useful piece back in the mix last Sunday when Ben Williamson was activated, and the move came with a roster casualty attached. Tampa Bay designated outfielder Jake Fraley for assignment after Williamson’s return from the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.
Williamson’s role has shifted as the year has gone on, but he still gives Kevin Cash something the Rays have leaned on all season: flexibility. He opened the season as Tampa Bay’s starting second baseman, then settled into more of a super-utility role, handling second base, third base and shortstop while also giving the club a right-handed bat it can use against lefties.
The offensive numbers aren’t flashy, but they’ve mattered. Williamson carries a 78 OPS+, and that production still looks valuable in the context of a Rays lineup that has had to piece things together. He was especially important in May, when he hit .308 with a .413 on-base percentage and helped anchor second base during Tampa Bay’s hottest stretch at 18-8.
What really keeps him in the lineup picture is the glove. The defensive metrics don’t all agree on how to judge him - range factor and OAA are less enthusiastic, while DRS gives him better marks because of the way he positions himself before the play unfolds. Cash, though, has clearly seen enough to trust him around the infield.
His absence in early August was felt, and the Rays turned to players with similar utility profiles, including Jorge Mateo. Mateo brings speed and strong defense, but the bat has been a problem, with a -2 OPS+. Williamson, even with his own modest offensive line, gives Tampa Bay a much better offensive option while still covering multiple spots.
Richie Palacios has also become a useful option at second base, and together with Williamson, he gives the Rays a dependable combination on the infield. That group has helped offset the loss of Gavin Lux, who has been injured and unavailable all season.
In Other News...
Rays Face Another Wander Franco Turning Point
Wander Francos legal situation has entered another critical stage, with both his lawyers and prosecutors appealing the outcome of his second trial in the Dominican Republic involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. The Court of Appeal in Puerto Plata is set to issue a ruling on Oct. 20, adding another date to a case that has already kept the former Rays shortstop out of baseball for well over a year.
Franco was previously found guilty in an earlier trial and received a suspended sentence, before the appeals court ordered a new trial. He has not played since August 2023 and remains on Major League Baseballs restricted list, leaving Tampa Bay and the rest of the sport still waiting for the next legal turn in a case that has no immediate baseball resolution. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Just Made Tampa Bay's Playoff Path A Lot More Complicated
The Yankees are already in the postseason, but their surge has tightened the race around them in a way that matters plenty to Tampa Bay. New York sits at 90-66 and is still likely headed for the Wild Card round, yet it remains close enough in the AL East to keep pressure on the Rays with six games left, especially after opening this four-game set with a win behind Carlos Rodns eight shutout innings.
For Tampa Bay, the bigger picture is that every result now has double meaning: the division chase and the playoff seeding puzzle are both still in play. Aaron Boone also hinted Rodns start could have been his final regular-season outing, a sign the Yankees may be planning ahead for a possible Wild Card Game 3 against the Red Sox, which only adds another layer to a finish that is getting more complicated by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Have A Trust Problem Brewing As October Gets Closer
With October creeping closer, the Rays are still leaning on a mix of rising talent and veteran arms to stay in the AL East chase. Junior Caminero, Drew Rasmussen and Victor Mesa Jr. have helped keep Tampa Bay in the fight, but the clubs pitching decisions are starting to matter more as the margins get tighter and every late-inning choice carries extra weight.
Steven Matz was brought in on a two-year, $15 million deal to provide versatility and experience, and the Rays have tried him in different roles to get value from that investment. But his season has been uneven, with an ERA north of 5.00 across 33 appearances and 11 starts, and that kind of production can make a manager think twice when the games get bigger. The question now is how much trust Tampa Bay can realistically place in him when the postseason pressure arrives. [Read more 🡒]