Tampa Bay selected Areinamo's contract from Double-A Montgomery on Tuesday, thus protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays acquired Areinamo in a deal with Milwaukee in late July. The 21-year-old had been playing at the High-A level prior to the trade, but he immediately jumped up Double-A with the Rays and slashed .255/.316/.397 with four homers, 19 RBI and six stolen bases over 37 contests. Areinamo can play multiple infield positions and has shown a bit of pop along with good speed on the basepaths. Perhaps most impressively, he's struck out below a 13 percent clip each of the past three seasons.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Alex Cook: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Rays selected Cook's contract from Double-A Montgomery on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Cook came to the Rays as a 12th-round selection in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. The right-hander has worked mostly as a reliever in the minors, and he turned in a nice 18:3 K:BB over 15.2 innings while posting a 2.30 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 13 appearances in his first taste of Double-A ball last season. Cook dealt with some injuries last year, but if he can stay healthy and continue to impress next season, he should get a chance to move up to the Triple-A level.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Dominic Keegan: Won't be part of Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Rays selected Keegan's contract from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Keegan was a fourth-round selection in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. The catcher reached Triple-A for the first time last season and put together a .241/.306/.429 slash line with 10 home runs and 36 RBI over 297 plate appearances. The pop was promising, but Keegan also struck out at a 30.6 clip with Durham -- a rate much higher than in his previous minor-league stops. If he can impress with the bat early in the 2026 season, Keegan could make his MLB debut next year.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Steven Wilson: Joins Rays' bullpen
Rotowire
The White Sox traded Wilson and Yoendrys Gomez to Tampa Bay on Tuesday in exchange for Tanner Murray and Everson Pereira (back), Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Wilson is a veteran reliever who got into a career-high 59 games with Chicago last season, recording a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings. He notched two saves and nine holds but was also charged with seven blown saves. Wilson should bolster Tampa Bay's relief corps but is unlikely to be a high-leverage option for the team.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Yoendrys Gomez: Shipped to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The White Sox traded Gomez and Steven Wilson to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for Everson Pereira (back) and Tanner Murray, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Gomez joined the White Sox last May as a waiver-wire claim from the Dodgers, who had previously claimed him off waivers from the Yankees. The right-hander ended up appearing in 12 contests (including nine starts) for Chicago, posting a 4.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 47:16 K:BB over 48.1 innings. Gomez mostly worked as a starter during his time in the minors, but Tampa Bay may elect to use him out of the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jacob Kisting: Sent to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Twins traded Kisting to the Rays on Tuesday in exchange for reliver Eric Orze, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kisting was a 14th-round selection by Minnesota in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft. The righty got into 30 games (five starts) across Single-A and High-A ball last season, posting a 3.79 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB over 73.2 innings. He'll likely begin his Rays tenure in the lower levels of the minors.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jake Fraley: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Rays designated Fraley (oblique) for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Timesreports.
The veteran outfielder was claimed off waivers by the Rays in early November but has already lost his place on the 40-man roster. Fraley finished the season on the IL due to an oblique strain and totaled 76 games between Atlanta and Cincinnati. He had a .241/.332/.382 slash line with six home runs and four steals in 217 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Christopher Morel: DFA'd by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays designated Morel for assignment Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Morel played in 105 games for the Rays last season but was inconsistent at the plate with a .219/.289/.396 slash line and 35.7 percent strikeout rate in 105 plate appearances. The 26-year-old clubbed 26 homers with an .821 OPS for the Cubs in 2023 but posted a .651 OPS over the past two regular seasons.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Luis Guerrero: Dealt to Rays
Rotowire
The Rays acquired Guerrero from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Tristan Gray.
Guerrero was outrighted off Boston's 40-man roster last week after passing through waivers unclaimed, but now he's on the move to a new organization. The right-hander holds a 2.63 ERA but a 19:16 K:BB across 27.1 frames covering parts of two major-league seasons. Guerrero has a big arm and the Rays will now be tasked with getting him to throw more strikes, which is something they've had success with as an organization with other hurlers.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Brian Van Belle: Outrighted after clearing waivers
Rotowire
The Rays outrighted Van Belle (elbow) to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Van Belle was diagnosed with a UCL sprain in September, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the righty had surgery and will miss all of the 2026 season. It's unclear what specific procedure he had, but if it was Tommy John, it would be the second of his career. Van Belle will remain in the organization while he rehabs.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Brian Van Belle: DFA'd by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays activated Van Belle (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment Thursday.
Van Belle suffered a UCL sprain in September, and it's unclear if the injury will be addressed via rest and rehab or surgery. Regardless, the 29-year-old will be placed on waivers. He appeared in four games with Tampa Bay in 2025, marking his first MLB action.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Nate Lavender: DFA'd by Rays
Rotowire
The Rays activated Lavender (elbow) from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment Thursday.
Lavender underwent surgery in late August or early September to remove a bone spur from his left elbow. It's possible he'll be available for the start of spring training. However, he'll be exposed to waivers after Thursday's move. Lavender, who turns 25 in January, has yet to make his MLB debut.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Bob Seymour: Cut from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays designated Seymour for assignment Thursday.
Seymour saw extended big-league action to close the regular season, and he slashed .205/.253/.282 with a 38.6 percent K rate across 83 plate appearances. It was a disappointing MLB debut for the first baseman who launched 30 homers at Triple-A Durham before being called up. He'll now be exposed to waivers, though he could remain with the Rays if he goes unclaimed.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Kameron Misner: Booted from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays designated Misner for assignment Thursday.
Misner will hit waivers after a lackluster 2025 campaign. The outfielder, who turns 28 in January, slashed .213/.273/.345 with a 31.8 percent K rate across 217 big-league plate appearances in 2025, and he also slashed .210/.333.442 at Triple-A.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Forrest Whitley: Contract selected
Rotowire
The Rays selected Whitley's contract from Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Whitley struggled in his 12 big-league innings last season, posting a 13.50 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP across appearances with Houston and Tampa Bay. The 28-year-old posted a more palatable 2.60 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 55.1 innings at Triple-A Durham, however.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jake Fraley: Claimed by Rays
Rotowire
Tampa Bay claimed Fraley (oblique) off waivers from Atlanta on Thursday.
Fraley suffered a right oblique strain in mid-September, and after being exposed to waivers, he'll get a fresh start in Tampa Bay. Fraley slashed .241/.332/.382 during the 2025 season, spending the bulk of the year with Cincinnati before ending the campaign in Atlanta.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Brandon Lowe: Rays pick up $11.5 million option
Rotowire
The Rays exercised Lowe's $11.5 million option for 2026 on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe will stay put after he slashed .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI this season for the Rays. The 31-year-old will be entering his walk year in 2026, so he will be a trade candidate if the Rays are not in contention when the deadline arrives.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Taylor Walls: Option exercised, another one added
Rotowire
The Rays exercised Walls' (sports hernia) $2.45 million option for 2026 and added a $3.1 million club option for 2027 on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The new deal covers Walls' remaining years of arbitration eligibility, if the 2027 option is picked up. Walls is a career .195/.286/.298 hitter over parts of five major-league seasons but is regarded as a plus defender. He could compete for the starting shortstop job next season with Carson Williams but could ultimately settle into a utility infielder role. Walls is recovering from sports hernia surgery but is expected to be ready for spring training.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Cole Wilcox: No longer on 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays designated Wilcox for assignment Monday.
Wilcox made his major-league debut this season with the Rays, getting roughed up for seven runs (three earned) over one inning in his lone appearance. The 26-year-old will go through the waivers process and could remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Joey Gerber: Cut from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Rays designated Gerber for assignment Monday.
The Rays are doing some 40-man roster housecleaning and Gerber has lost his spot. The righty reliever made two appearances for Tampa Bay in 2025, allowing one run with a 4:0 K:BB over 4.1 innings.
9:07
10:59
0:52
1:47
0:48
0:46
0:52
0:47
10:47
8:07
9:50
1:28
1:04
0:48
9:57
10:23
0:48
1:13
10:30
9:43
