Did a pennant run and a new ownership group change the Tampa Bay Rays’ winter outlook? That’s the question hanging over a club that may be a little more willing to flex financially this offseason than it has in recent years.
The Rays still aren’t about to dive into a huge spending spree, but there is at least some belief they could loosen the purse strings a bit. One early clue came from president of baseball operations Erik Neander, who already said the team plans to have Drew Ramsussen and his $20 million option anchoring the rotation in 2027. If that happens, he would become the first player in franchise history to make $20 million individually.
That broader shift in approach is part of why Tampa Bay is a team to watch on the trade market, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. The name to keep an eye on is outfielder Jonny DeLuca.
“In a thin market for offense, Tampa Bay might consider trading Jonny DeLuca to open center field for Victor Mesa Jr., according to people briefed on the Rays’ thinking who were not authorized to publicly discuss the team’s plans,” Rosenthal and Sammon wrote.
DeLuca is under team control for three more years, so moving him would be a surprise. But with the current free-agent crop looking thin and uncertainty hanging over the labor stoppage, he could draw real interest if the Rays decide to listen.
He showed some of that upside in 2026, when he hit 11 home runs and stole 17 bases. In the playoffs, he passed veteran Cedric Mullins and took over as the starting center fielder, where he grades out as an above-average defender.
Still, Tampa Bay may see a path to using that depth elsewhere. Victor Mesa Jr. is there as a possible replacement, and the organization also has other outfield options pushing up from below.
Jacob Melton, acquired from the Houston Astros last offseason as part of the Brandon Lowe three-team trade that sent him to the Pittsburgh Pirates, looks ready for a Major League look. Theo Gillen, after a monster 2026 season, isn’t far behind.
With Chandler Simpson locked in at left field as a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award finalist, the Rays suddenly find themselves with a surplus in a spot that was a huge need just a year ago.
So while DeLuca isn’t exactly on the block, he’s a name worth watching. If the right offer comes along, Tampa Bay has enough outfield depth to absorb the hit.
In Other News...
Rays Just Earned The Kind Of Recognition Fans Will Love
The Rays picked up a wave of national recognition that speaks to both the present and the bigger picture, with Bryan Baker earning the Mariano Rivera award as the top American League reliever and Erik Neander being named MLB Executive of the Year. It was the kind of honors haul that reflects how much attention Tampa Bays pitching and front office drew across the sport, even as the seasons awards conversation kept moving.
Junior Camineros rise was rewarded with a spot on the All-MLB First Team at third base, while Drew Rasmussen landed on the All-MLB Second Team rotation after also finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting. Bakers season had already put him in the mix among the leagues best relievers, and Rasmussens recognition only adds to the sense that the Rays have more than one arm and one bat shaping the conversation heading into what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Could Make A Surprising Outfield Move Fans Didn't Expect
The GM meetings in Las Vegas have already started to shape the early offseason market, with a few familiar names drawing attention and a few clubs looking for creative ways to patch holes. The Mariners have shown interest in free agent Ian Happ, the Mets have joined the Yankees in pursuing Alec Bohm, and Ryan Jeffers is expected to turn down the Twins qualifying offer even as Minnesota keeps working to bring him back.
For the Rays, the more intriguing talk may be in the outfield, where a thin free-agent class could push them toward the trade market instead of a straightforward signing. Jonny DeLuca is part of that conversation, and any move involving him would ripple through the rest of the roster construction as Tampa Bay weighs how best to fit its pieces together for next season. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Just Got League-Wide Validation For How They Keep Winning
The Rays front office just picked up another piece of league-wide respect for the way it keeps the club in contention year after year. Erik Neander was named Executive of the Year, a recognition that followed a season in which Tampa Bay turned an unexpected division title into the best record in the American League and added another pennant to its recent run of success.
Kevin Cash also came up just short in the American League Manager of the Year voting, finishing second after guiding a roster that once again outperformed expectations. For a franchise that has built its identity on finding edges others miss, the honors only reinforced how much of the Rays staying power comes from the people steering the operation as much as the players on the field. [Read more 🡒]