The Tampa Bay Rays are heading into the offseason with a lot to feel good about and just as much to sort through.
A 98-64 finish and a trip to the World Series put Tampa Bay in a strong spot, but the roster still has clear holes that Erik Neander has to attack before 2027. The biggest issues are obvious: the rotation needs help, the middle infield needs more offense, the outfield could use another impact bat, and the bullpen can’t be left thin.
Starting pitching sits at the top of the list. Nick Martinez and Freddy Peralta are both testing free agency, and that puts two key rotation pieces in play.
Drew Rasmussen remains part of the organization’s plans, but there is also the chance Tampa Bay could look at trading the veteran right-hander. What the Rays need most is reliable innings, the kind of steady work that keeps a staff from getting stretched too thin over the regular season.
Bringing back Martinez would make sense, but Neander still has to look beyond that and make sure the group is deep enough for 2027.
The middle infield is another area where the Rays need more punch. Taylor Walls just won his first Gold Glove Award and continues to be one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but his bat still leaves questions about whether he can hold down an everyday job.
Tampa Bay does have young talent on the way, including Carson Williams and Grady Emerson, though there’s no guarantee either is ready to produce right away. The Gavin Lux experiment didn’t work because of injury, and he’s back on the market.
The Rays need more depth there, and adding a dependable bat without a major financial hit would go a long way.
There’s talent in the outfield, but Tampa Bay still wants more consistency from that group. Chandler Simpson hit .306 with 46 stolen bases in the regular season, while Victor Mesa Jr. also emerged as a meaningful contributor.
Even so, the Rays could use another outfielder who brings more extra-base production. Simpson’s speed changes games, but his .333 on-base percentage shows there’s still room to grow.
Mesa Jr. gave the team encouraging signs, yet the Rays leaned heavily on Junior Caminero all season, and that kind of burden can’t fall on one player forever.
The bullpen also deserves attention, even with Bryan Baker locking down the ninth inning. Baker was one of the best closers in baseball last season, finishing with 41 saves and a 1.44 ERA.
Still, Tampa Bay can’t ignore the innings in front of him. Edwin Uceta is recovering from shoulder surgery and has already been ruled out for 2027, which leaves the Rays needing more trustworthy arms for the seventh and eighth innings.
Outside of Baker and Kevin Kelly, the relief group wasn’t always the most dependable part of the roster, and adding another experienced arm would help. That matters even more in October, when a strong bullpen can change everything.
The good news for Tampa Bay is that not every answer has to come from outside the organization. Carson Williams, Grady Emerson, Theo Gillen, Brody Hopkins, and Ty Johnson could all become important pieces in time.
In Other News...
Rays Fans Wont Love Where This Former Tampa Bay Bat Landed
Jake Bauers is headed back into the American League East, and this time it comes with a twist Rays fans probably wont enjoy. After helping the Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series and earning National League Championship Series MVP honors along the way, Bauers reportedly agreed to a four-year, $58 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, giving a division rival a proven left-handed bat.
For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder of how quickly the offseason can reshape the balance of power in the division. Boston is clearly looking to strengthen its lineup, and adding a player who just played a major role in a championship run only raises the stakes for everyone else in the AL East. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Have A Real Snub Debate After Awards Night
The Rays had one of those seasons that usually leaves some hardware in the case, but awards night went by without a single trophy for Tampa Bay. After finishing with the best record in the American League at 98-64, the club had a presence in several major races, with Junior Caminero, Bryan Baker and Kevin Cash all drawing enough attention to reach finalist status.
Caminero ended up second in AL MVP voting without a first-place vote, Baker placed third in the reliever race and Cash was runner-up for Manager of the Year, yet none of them walked away with the prize. For a team that spent the year stacking wins and putting together one of the leagues strongest resumes, the blank finish across the board only sharpened the debate over how the Rays were viewed compared with the rest of the American League. [Read more 🡒]
Junior Caminero Just Put The Rays In Rare MVP Company
Junior Caminero did not take home the American League MVP award, but his runner-up finish still put the Rays in a place they do not visit often. The Baseball Writers Association of America announced the 2026 winner as Houstons Yordan Alvarez, with Kansas Citys Bobby Witt Jr. third, and Camineros second-place showing gave Tampa Bay a real seat at the table in a race dominated by star power.
For a Rays club that has long built around development and value, having one of its own finish that high in the voting says plenty about where Caminero has arrived. Alvarezs season was the standard, with a .316/.432/.601 line and league-leading marks across the board, but Camineros place just behind him gives Tampa Bay a fresh reminder that its next wave can still break through on the sports biggest individual stage. [Read more 🡒]