Parking is free at the Trop, the event is 1-5 PM. Today is the Rays annual Fan Fest, this time being held at the St. Petersburg Pier. Rays Fan Fest, presented by Visit St. Pete Clearwater, will take place Saturday, February 15, from 1-5 p.m. at the St. Pete Pier (600 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701). To claim a free ticket, visit RaysBaseball.com/FanFest. Also, fans who scan their free Fan Fest tickets at either of two scan locations on the Pier are entered to win two, complimentary tickets to a game at Steinbrenner Field during the 2025 regular season. Ahead of this afternoon’s ev ..read more

Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The team says the County “effectively broke” the new stadium contract. This is a lie. Rays co-Presidents Brian Auld and Matt Silverman were interviewed this week by the team’s podcast regarding the struggles the team has faced following the damage to Tropicana Field that displaced the team for 2025. It was a humanizing and compelling retelling of the challenges the front office faced. At first. Unfortunately, the tone shifted dramatically when the interviewer Chris Adams-Wall asked “what happened” this fall regarding the Rays claims the New Stadium project was d ..read more

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Is it always a good thing to show up early? What does it mean to report to Spring Training early? Is it a sign of renewed determination? A portent of big production in the coming season? Junior Caminero has reported early to camp, like so many other players do every year, but what — if anything — does that tell us? Several times during my years working for the Miami Marlins analytics department, I was tasked to find out what Spring Training means. That sounds more philosophical than the work actually was. But annually, I got the same answer: Not a whole lot. Th ..read more

Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images The Rays have added another pitcher to their large mix of bullpen options The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed pitcher Mason Englert from the Detroit Tigers for minor league left-handed pitcher Drew Sommers; the Rays have placed Rule-5 draft pick Nate Lavender on the 60-day Injured List to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Englert, 25, was originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the 4th round of the 2018 draft. He was named their 11th best prospect entering the 2019 season, but unfortunately would have to undergo Tommy John surger ..read more

A piece of the Paredes trade consolidates at No. 15. Previous Winner 15. Ty Johnson, RHP 23 | 6’6” | 205 A (CHC) | 3.48 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 33.2 IP (10 G, 4 GS) 36.1% K, 7.5% BB A+ (CHC) | 3.62 ERA, 3.04 FIP, 27.1 IP (8 G, 6 GS) 28.4% K, 10.3% BB A+ (TBR) | 0.78 ERA, 0.95 FIP, 23.0 IP (6 G, 3 GS) 46.4% K, 4.8% BB Acquired as the final piece of the Paredes trade, Johnson is tall with blossoming velocity as a professional. His fastball is flat but up to 98 and he features a breaking ball with glove-side action that has constantly improved since being drafted. Johnson’s delivery has a unique dip and ..read more

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports We will have a special election in addition to the normal poll this time around, see below. Previous Winner Theo Gillen, OF 19 | L/R | 6’2” | 195 A | .154/.353/.192 (86 wRC+) 34 PA, 0 HR, 1 SB, 23.5% BB, 41.2% K The Rays top draft pick from 2024, the high school outfielder had several serious injuries to overcome to become the No. 18 overall pick, including labrum, wrist, and knee. His line drive swing is expected to add power as he develops, but given his injury history that is a question not a given. For now the Rays will treat him like a blue chip center field ..read more

New ticket packages are also now available. The Tampa Bay Rays announced new, partial-season ticket packages, including two 20-Game Plans and a Fan’s Choice Plan available for all fans to purchase beginning Thursday, February 6. The Rays also announced this season’s giveaway schedule, as well as Nike City Connect and Devil Rays uniform days for the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. The Rays 2025 season is presented by Orlando Health. Flipped it and reversed it. pic.twitter.com/Uvwlb77Qhr — Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) February 6, 2025 Uniform Schedule The Rays will we ..read more

Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images A surprise? Yes, but a welcome one. Just when we thought the Rays were done and the roster was set for the upcoming season, they go out and sign Ha-Seong Kim to one of the largest free agent contracts in franchise history. Kim’s addition shakes up what we thought the shortstop depth chart looked like, with Taylor Walls’ playing time most in jeopardy. Kim will not start the season on the active roster, however, as he recovers from labrum surgery. That means Walls will most likely be the team’s shortstop on Opening Day, but he’ll have less than two months to prove wh ..read more

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images Law says that Carson Williams is the most enigmatic prospect in the minors Prospect season continues as Keith Law, the former front office exectuive, big league scout, and current writer for The Athletic, has released his Top 100 prospects entering the 2025 season as well as his Top 20 prospects in the Rays system. Keith Law seems lower on the top end of the Rays system than most pundits as only two players graced his Top 100, with Carson Williams slotting in at 8th overall and 2023 first rounder Brayden Taylor placed at 89th; Xavier Isaac ..read more

Who’s next? Previous Winner 13. Brailer Guerrero, OF 19 | L/R | 6’1” | 215 CPX | .330/.452/.466 (155 wRC+) 126 PA, 2 HR, 13 SB, 17.5% BB, 25.4% K Guerrero’s first year state side went well enough, which was not a guarantee after requiring labrum surgery just 7 games into his career with the Rays after signing for $3.7 million in 2023. He got paid thanks to exit velo’s in the 110’s. This year he made it 28 games before succumbing to a shoulder injury again. It’s a special bat, but he has to stay healthy to be a viable top prospect. Guerrero has consistently received votes for many cycles and ..read more