(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)   Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks entered Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels with a 4-3 lead, looking for a save. When all was said and done, however, he left the inning having relinquished the lead: the game was now 5-4 in favor of the Angels as the teams headed to the bottom of the ninth. It’s not common to watch Fairbanks struggle: he had a 2.58 ERA in 2023 and a 1.13 mark the year before. This year, however, he is still trying to find the best version of himself. His ERA after the outing, in which he allowed three hits and two ear ..read more

(Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images)   The Tampa Bay Rays have been without shortstop Wander Franco, arguably their best player, since mid-August 2023. The infielder was placed on administrative leave after allegations about his involvement in underage relationships surfaced. Dominican Republic authorities started an investigation on the matter, which still hasn’t finished. On Thursday, MLB insider Jeff Passan revealed that the league has extended his administrative leave until June 1. “News: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on administrative leave through June 1 per ..read more

(Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)   The Tampa Bay Rays are always looking in the bargain bin in free agency. We rarely see them spend big on any player as they consistently have one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. Even with that, the Rays have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past six seasons. Not including the shortened 2020 season, the Rays have won at least 86 games in each of the past six seasons. They have done so with the aforementioned low payroll and no superstar players. According to Joel Sherman, pitcher Jake Odorizzi is the most recent signing of the Rays ..read more

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)   The Tampa Bay Rays have seemingly always done a great job of developing their players. We rarely see them spend big in free agency, and when they make trades, it is to acquire prospects for proven MLB players. One player they have high hopes for is starting pitcher Taj Bradley. He was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball last season. But, the results were not great in his rookie year. Still, Bradley has all the ability to be a good starter for a long time. Yet, he has to stay healthy to reach his full potential. According to Jayson Stark ..read more

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)   Where there is a will, there is a way. Amed Rosario has been an underwhelming hitter in his MLB career, at least compared to the hype he generated as a prospect. In parts of seven seasons in the majors, he has accumulated a .272/.308/.400 line with a .708 OPS. That’s adequate production, but not particularly exciting. But he wants to be better and made sure to put the work in since November. He went to Driveline Baseball, the lab of the moment, and re-designed his swing with the help of professionals. It earned him a $1.5 million contract with the T ..read more

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)   The Tampa Bay Rays have had their typical offseason. They have dealt one of their stars about to get expensive (Tyler Glasnow), acquired controllable talent (Ryan Pepiot), and now they are shopping at the bargain section. According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, Tampa Bay is bringing in a former top prospect on the cheap. “Infielder Amed Rosario and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a one-year, $1.5 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Rosario, 28, will bring a strong bat against left-handed pitching and should get at-bats at shortstop, second b ..read more

(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)   If there is a team in baseball that believes in its project and continually sticks to their ways, it’s the Tampa Bay Rays. They don’t go out on spending sprees for free agents, but they value concepts like player development and good scouting and create their own contributors, tailor-made for their forward-thinking and analytics-driven approach. In fact, there is a whole school of Rays executives that have gone on to feed front offices around the league: Andrew Friedman, Chaim Bloom, Peter Bendix, Erik Neander, and several others. Neander, who has be ..read more

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)   Baker Mayfield revitalized his career in just one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he led them to an NFC South title and Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles. This all came a year after he flopped with the Carolina Panthers and finished the 2022 season with the Los Angeles Rams. Questions about Mayfield’s NFL career circled after he signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Buccaneers, and he was rewarded for his efforts with the Pro Football Writers of America’s “Most Improved Player of the Year” award for the 2023 season. Hamlin ..read more

(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)   In baseball, teams often have to bite the bullet and pay a player who is expected to sit out the entire season. It’s the nature of the system, and it’s a fair way to show these players that, as an organization, they have faith in them coming back strong and contributing in the future. This is exactly what the Tampa Bay Rays are doing with star left-hander and former Cy Young award candidate Shane McClanahan. “Sources: Shane McClanahan, Rays have agreed to a two-year, $7.2 million contract to avoid arbitration. The deal includes escalators in 2024 ..read more

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)   The Tampa Bay Rays are famous for being a small-market team with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. However, they are different to other low payroll squads. Many of these choose to rebuild for years and only go for it for a small window when the stars align for them. However, the Rays have developed such a strong player development system that their depth can withstand trades, injuries, players leaving via free agency, suspensions, and more. Still, and speaking of players who are nearing free agency and getting really expensive, they will likel ..read more