The Tampa Bay Rays new ownership group has prioritized the 108 acre Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus for a new stadium in Tampa, between Tampa International Airport’s secondary runway and the Buccaneer’s Raymond James Stadium, and has an aggressive goal of opening a new stadium for the 2029 season. Today, the Rays take the first […]
15 days ago | 0 reads
Previous Winner Daniel Pierce, SS19 | R/R | 6’0” | 185 The 14th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Pierce is a preternatural defender at short stop, with a top flight glove that could rival any player in the organization. Early reports say he’s already started building muscle as a professional, which is helpful for […]
17 days ago | 0 reads
Previous Winner Ty Johnson, RHP24 | 6’6” | 205AA | 2.61 ERA, 2.33 FIP, 110.1 IP (26 G, 20 GS), 34.7% K, 8.8% BB A dip-and-drive pitcher with a quick arm action and a limited arsenal with a flat plane have given Johnson a reliever projection most of his minor league career, but his success […]
19 days ago | 1 read
Waking up to the news that the Rays traded Josh Lowe was bittersweet. The first thing I wrote for DRaysBay was how excited I was about Josh Lowe heading into the 2023 season. The power and speed combo was exciting at the time, and the data suggested all he needed was an opportunity. Fast forward […]
19 days ago | 3 reads
In need of a primary second basemen and with several left handed hitting outfielders on the roster, the Rays have traded from a position of depth by sending OF Josh Lowe to the Los Angeles Angels in a three team deal, receiving back 2B Gavin Lux from the Cincinnati Reds and prospect RHP Chris Clark […]
20 days ago | 4 reads
The time has come again where the Rays, and all MLB teams, spend upwards of $10 million on prospects that we might not have any data on for a decade! It’s exciting and concerning all at the same time, and involve handshake deals years in the making. This year the Rays appear to have done […]
20 days ago | 2 reads
The Tampa Bay Rays today announced details for the 2026 Fan Fest Block Party presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, taking place from 1–5 p.m. on Saturday, February 14 outside Tropicana Field along 16th St. N. in St. Petersburg. This event is free, but fans must claim a ticket to attend. This year’s event will kick […]
21 days ago | 2 reads
Previous Winner Theo Gillen, OF20 | L/R | 6’2” | 195A | .267/.433/.387 (151 wRC+) 324 PA, 5 HR, 36 SB, 19.8% BB, 23.1% K Gillen fell to 18th overall in the 2024 draft due to shoulder and wrist injuries, despite being considered by some to be the best teenage bat in the draft. Now […]
21 days ago | 2 reads
The Tampa Bay Rays farm system has undergone a vast change since Baseball America announced the team’s top ten prospects entering the 2026 season back on November 25th. Back then, Brandon Lowe was still the Rays starting second baseman and Shane Baz was a primary member of the starting rotation. Now both of those players […]
22 days ago | 1 read
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired infielder Brett Wisely and left-handed pitcher Ken Waldichuk from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later (PTBNL). To clear two spots on their 40-man roster, the Rays designated right-handed reliever Osvaldo Bido and infielder Tsung-Che Cheng for assignment. This is classic, low-key […]
23 days ago | 4 reads
The Tampa Bay Rays could see a vote occur on the leading candidate for a new Rays stadium as soon as next week, according to breaking news from the Tampa Business Journal: The Hillsborough College District Board of Trustees is expected to hold a special meeting Jan. 20 to vote on a deal that would […]
23 days ago | 1 read
Previous Winner Jacob Melton, OF25 | L/L | 6’3” | 208AAA (HOU) | .286/.389/.556 (141 wRC+) 150 PA, 6 HR, 12 SB, 14.7% BB, 20.0% KMLB (HOU) |.157/.234/.186 (22 wRC+) 78 PA, 0 HR, 7 SB, 7.7%BB, 37.2% K Brought over from Houston in the Brandon Lowe deal, Melton was the Astros top prospect and […]
23 days ago | 3 reads
With the departure of Pete Fairbanks this offseason, the Rays have stated that they’ll turn to a closer by committee approach in 2026. I believe they’ll stick to this plan at least at the beginning of the season and a de facto closer could emerge as the year goes on. While performance and health will […]
23 days ago | 2 reads
Previous Winner Brody Hopkins, RHP24 | 6’4” | 200AA | 2.72 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 116.0 IP (25 GS) 28.7% K, 12.2% BB Hopkins was late to pitching, having done so essentially one season in college before being drafted in 2023, and accordingly has been refining his control throughout his pitching career. This was no different […]
26 days ago | 3 reads
Patrick Zalupski, the new lead owner of the Tampa Bay Rays, issued a letter to the Shareholders of Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (DFH), the company for which he is both Chairman and CEO, on December 29th, and included some commentary on his recent purchase of the team. Tampa – Home of the Tampa Bay Rays […]
27 days ago | 0 reads
It’s 2026 and Rays Reacts is back! It’s a whole new phase of Rays baseball. The Tropicana Field roof is getting fixed (with the Rays set to return home in April after a weird 2025 at Steinbrenner Field), and we’ve got new ownership in town led by Patrick Zalupski and his group, who closed the […]
27 days ago | 1 read
The Tampa Bay Rays have claimed Taiwanese INF Tsung-Che Cheng from the Pirates, filling the final open slot on the 40-man roster. Interestingly, Cheng was designated for assignment to make room for Brandon Lowe, making him a sort of final piece of the trade. Cheng was signed in 2019 for $380,000 but did not make […]
28 days ago | 1 read
Previous Winner 1. Carson Williams, SS23 | R/R | 6’2” | 180AAA | .213/.318/.447 (98 wRC+) 451 PA, 23 HR, 22 SB, 12.4% BB, 34.1% KMLB | .172/.219/.354 (54 wRC+) 106 PA, 5 HR, 2 SB, 5.7% BB, 41.5% K Williams made his MLB debut on August 22nd and proved the be the real deal […]
28 days ago | 0 reads
The Rays decided to trade Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz right after we decided to break for the holidays, meaning this is the first chance we’ve had to talk about the two massive deals that now shape the team’s offseason. There are now major holes at second base and in the starting rotation, which the […]
28 days ago | 1 read
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rays fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Please take our survey
29 days ago | 0 reads
The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired OF Justyn-Henry Malloy from Tigers in exchange for cash considerations, according to the team’s official social media account. This move might come as a mild surprise, as the Rays have added another outfielder to their 40-man roster with the acquisition of Malloy from the Tigers, brining the count up […]
29 days ago | 2 reads
The Rays will be looking to replace Shane Baz’s production in the rotation, and I think the Rays should look in-house and give Joe Boyle an extended run. Boyle has always had plus stuff, but he’s had trouble sticking in the major leagues in previous seasons due to his lack of both control (the ability […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Welcome back to the Community Prospect List! For rules on how to vote, please reference the intro article: 2026 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: How to Vote! On to the candidates! Jadher Areinamo, INF22 | R/R | 5’8” | 160A+ (MIL) | .255/.316/.397 (126 wRC+) 415 PA, 11 HR, 15 SB, 8.2% BB, 11.6% KAA (TB) […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read
Let me be the 47th person to wish you a Happy New Year and welcome you to 2026. Like many of you, I spent some time reflecting on 2025 in the waning days of the year, and part of that reflection came to baseball. I found myself dissatisfied with how the 2025 season played out […]
about 1 month ago | 0 reads
Welcome back to the 16th annual DRaysBay Community Prospect List vote. Here’s how you vote: There will be a selection of players listed in the article and then below in the comments. To vote, reply to the name you’d like to vote for with a +1 in the comment. Polls will be posted three times […]
about 1 month ago | 1 read