The Tampa Bay Rays made a bold move this week-one that signals a clear shift in priorities. By trading away All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, reliever Mason Montgomery, and promising starter Shane Baz in two separate deals, the Rays essentially hit pause on their 2026 contention window in exchange for a deeper, more dynamic future.
President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander didn’t sugarcoat it: “(Friday’s) deals were, I think, more about losing a little bit in ’26 to gain an awful lot as we look into the future.” That’s a rare bit of transparency in a league where front offices often dance around the word “rebuild.”
But make no mistake-this wasn’t a teardown. It was a calculated retooling, built around six intriguing prospects and an additional draft pick (No. 33 overall) that could shape the next core in St.
Pete.
Jacob Melton: The Headliner
Leading the return is outfielder Jacob Melton, a 25-year-old lefty bat who came over from Houston as part of a three-team deal involving Pittsburgh. Melton was ranked as the Astros’ top prospect by Baseball America and No. 2 by MLB.com, and the Rays believe he’s ready to contribute sooner rather than later.
“We’re really high on Jacob Melton,” Neander said. “We think he’s someone that has the potential to be a 20-homer, 40-steal-plus centerfielder or elite outfielder, wherever he is out there, and not terribly far off.”
Melton made his MLB debut for the Astros on June 1-ironically, against the Rays-but an ankle sprain just 11 games in derailed his momentum. He bounced between the majors and Triple-A for the rest of the year and finished with a .157 average and .419 OPS in 32 big-league games.
Those numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but the Rays aren’t worried. What they saw in Triple-A, especially in September, was a player adjusting fast and showing real growth-cutting down strikeouts while still hitting the ball with authority.
Anderson Brito: A High-Octane Arm
Also part of that deal is 21-year-old right-hander Anderson Brito, a 5-foot-10 flamethrower who touches 99 mph and brings a full arsenal with him-slider, curveball, changeup. Brito was ranked Houston’s No. 3 prospect by Baseball America and No. 7 by MLB.com, and he’s expected to start 2026 at Double-A.
Despite a shoulder issue that limited him to just under 50 innings in 2025, the Rays are confident in his health and upside. Brito posted a 39% strikeout rate in the lower minors in 2024 and followed that with a 31% mark at High-A this past season. Those are eye-popping numbers, and the Rays see a future starter with real swing-and-miss stuff.
“He’s a shorter guy, but he’s strong, he’s explosive,” Neander said. “There’s four pitches in place that are really, really good. He just has the kind of ceiling - starter potential - we’ve got to build it out.”
Shane Baz to Baltimore: A Tough Pill with a Big Return
Then came the tougher part-sending Shane Baz, a former top prospect and projected frontline starter, to the division-rival Orioles. That kind of in-division deal doesn’t happen often, and Neander acknowledged the difficulty. But the return-a package of four prospects, all ranked within Baltimore’s top 30-was too good to pass up.
The Rays accepted that these players are further away from the majors, but the upside is real.
- Caden Bodine, a 22-year-old catcher and the No. 30 overall pick in 2025 out of Coastal Carolina, brings switch-hitting ability and the kind of leadership and physical tools that could finally answer the Rays’ long-running question behind the plate.
- Slater de Brun, an 18-year-old outfielder and the No. 37 pick (originally held by the Rays), received a $4 million bonus-well above slot-for a reason. He’s drawn comparisons to Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, and the Rays were reportedly considering him with their own top pick before the Orioles snatched him up.
- Michael Forret, a right-hander out of State College of Florida, has already reached Double-A and brings a unique seven-pitch mix. He features two fastballs and two changeups, and MLB.com now ranks him as the Rays’ No. 7 prospect.
- Austin Overn, a 2024 third-rounder from USC, might be flying under the radar, but his elite speed and defensive potential make him a name to watch.
Neander acknowledged the risk in trading Baz, especially within the division. “We think Shane is about to take a really big step forward, and that part is difficult,” he said. “But just the return, we were able to get what we thought was a premium because we were willing to be patient and accept a proposal from them that was focused on players a lot further away from their major-league club.”
How It All Stacks Up
According to MLB.com’s updated rankings, the Rays’ farm system just got a serious jolt:
- Melton slots in at No. 4 overall, behind only Carson Williams, Theo Gillen, and Brody Hopkins.
- Brito lands at No. 6, making him the second-highest-ranked pitcher in the system.
- Forret is No. 7.
- De Brun, Bodine, and Overn come in at No. 8, 13, and 22, respectively.
That’s six new names in the top 25, all with varying timelines but legitimate upside.
A Farewell to Brandon Lowe
As for Brandon Lowe, his departure marks the end of a decade-long run with the Rays that saw him grow from a 2015 draft pick into one of the team’s most productive power hitters. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Lowe thanked the organization and the city of Tampa Bay, calling it his “home” and expressing gratitude for the chance to grow both on the field and off it.
It’s a reminder that while trades like these are often about numbers and projections, they’re also about people and legacies.
The Big Picture
This wasn’t about waving the white flag on 2026-it was about reloading for something bigger. The Rays have long been masters of the long game, and this set of moves fits right into that philosophy. They gave up proven MLB talent, yes, but they also added impact potential at nearly every level of the system.
Don’t be surprised if a few of these names-Melton, Brito, maybe even Bodine-start making noise sooner than expected. The Rays are betting on upside, depth, and development. And if history is any guide, they usually know what they’re doing.