Rays' Shane McClanahan: Avoids arbitration with Rays
Rotowire
The Rays and McClanahan (triceps) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.6 million contract Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's the same salary McClanahan was paid each of the last two seasons. The left-hander did not pitch at all in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery and was limited to only three rehab starts in 2025 due to a nerve issue in his left triceps that eventually required surgery. The expectation is that McClanahan will be ready for the start of spring training, but he's a major health risk heading into the 2026 season.
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Rays' Steven Matz: Will get another chance to start
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Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Matz will be given a chance to open the season in the rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Neander said that Matz -- whose two-year, $15 million contract became official Tuesday -- has "a real desire" to be a starting pitcher again, and the "the investment was made with that in mind." All but two of Matz's 53 regular-season appearances in 2025 came out of the bullpen, but the 34-year-old has predominantly been a starter in his career. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 59:11 K:BB over 76.2 regular-season frames between the Cardinals and Red Sox this past season.
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Rays' Tristan Peters: Cut from 40-man roster
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The Rays designated Peters for assignment Tuesday.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Steven Matz, whose signing was made official Tuesday. Peters went 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts during his brief time with the Rays in 2025 and slashed .266/.355/.429 at Triple-A Durham. He stands a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.
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Rays' Tommy McCollum: Dealt to Tampa Bay
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The Rays acquired McCollum from the Phillies on Wednesday in exchange for Yoniel Curet, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
McCollum pitched at three different levels in 2025, finishing with a 3.07 ERA and 59:16 K:BB over 55.2 innings. The 26-year-old reliever has not yet reached the majors and will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Durham.
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Rays' Logan Davidson: Inks pact with Rays
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Davidson signed a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Davidson bounced between the Athletics and Angels during the 2025 campaign, slashing .167/.222/.286 with one home run, four RBI and three runs scored in 19 games. He'll have a chance to crack the Opening Day roster after receiving an invitation to big-league camp.
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Rays' Steven Matz: Latches on with Tampa Bay
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Matz agreed to a two-year contract with the Rays on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Matz will suit up for the sixth different team in his veteran career after coming to terms on what's believed to be a multi-year contract with Tampa Bay. The southpaw was used in a variety of scenarios during the 2025 campaign with Boston and St. Louis, which included him securing the first two saves of his big-league career along with five wins. He logged 76.2 innings across 53 appearances last season. It's unclear whether the Rays are planning to use Matz as a starter or reliever.
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Rays' Yoniel Curet: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Rays designated Curet for assignment Saturday.
The 23-year-old righty will depart the Rays' 40-man roster in order to make room for Cedric Mullins, whose signing was made official Saturday. Curet turned in a 1.45 ERA over 18.2 innings in Double-A this past season but struggled upon being promoted to Triple-A, where he accumulated a 6.03 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over 31.1 frames.
Rays' Cedric Mullins: Inks one-year pact with Rays
Rotowire
Mullins signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Rays on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
2025 marked one of Mullins' worst seasons at the plate in the majors, as he finished the year with a .216/.299/.391 batting line over 498 plate appearances alongside 17 homers, 59 RBI, 58 runs scored and 22 steals. With fellow lefty-hitting outfielders Chandler Simpson, Jake Fraley and Josh Lowe already in Tampa Bay, so Mullins may need to improve upon his 2025 numbers to maintain a regular spot in the lineup.
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Rays' Griffin Jax: Part of Rays' closer-by-committee
Rotowire
Jax, Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays in 2026, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
There's been some talk of Jax potentially stretching out to join the Rays' rotation, but the current plan is to leave the 31-year-old in the bullpen. Acquired from the Twins at the trade deadline, Jax had an elevated 4.23 ERA in 2025, but a 2.51 FIP and 35 percent strikeout rate were more indicative of how he pitched. Mason Montgomery, Bryan Baker, Hunter Bigge, Steven Wilson and Manuel Rodriguez (elbow) could also work their way into high-leverage work, but the tentative plan seems to be for Jax, Cleavinger and Uceta to share the closer role.
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Rays' Edwin Uceta: Likely part of closer committee
Rotowire
Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger and Griffin Jax are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays next season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Pete Fairbanks easily paced the Rays with 27 saves in 2025, but he is a free agent after the team declined his $11 million option. That leaves a vacancy in the ninth inning, and it seems the Rays plan to fill that void with multiple arms. Uceta finished with a 3.79 ERA in 2025, but he had a 32.1 percent strikeout rate and boasts a 33.3 percent strikeout rate in his two seasons with Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Garrett Cleavinger: Will be part of closer committee
Rotowire
Cleavinger, Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta are expected to be part of a closer-by-committee for the Rays in 2026, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays elected to decline Pete Fairbanks' $11 million option, and the plan for now is to fill that ninth-inning vacancy with multiple players. Cleavinger had the best season of his career in 2025, holding a 2.35 ERA and 82:18 K:BB over 61.1 innings. The lefty has neutral splits, so he should not be at a matchup disadvantage when it comes to who manager Kevin Cash chooses to deploy in save situations.
Rays' Xavier Isaac: Underwent brain surgery in July
Rotowire
Isaac revealed Friday that he underwent brain surgery in July, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Isaac's last game at Double-A Montgomery came on June 25, but he had asked the Rays not to divulge details of his medical status during the season. However, Isaac revealed the cause of his absence in an Instagram post Friday, noting that the brain surgery was "life-saving." Isaac recently attended a hitting camp and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training. The first baseman slashed .201/.366/.446 with nine home runs in 41 contests for Montgomery in 2025 and will likely need another full year of seasoning in the minors in 2026.
Rays' Jake Fraley: Back with Rays on one-year deal
Rotowire
The Rays re-signed Fraley to a one-year, $3 million contract Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays non-tendered Fraley last week, but he's now back on a new one-year pact. Fraley has never had more than 382 plate appearances in a major-league season, in part due to injury issues but also due to the left-handed hitter's career .508 OPS versus lefty pitchers. The 30-year-old does have a career .261/.344/.432 batting line against righties, though, and will be part of Tampa Bay's outfield mix in 2026.
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Rays' Daniel Vellojin: Inks pact with Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Vellojin signed a minor-league contract with the Rays on Thursday.
Vellojin spent the 2025 campaign with High-A Bowling Green, slashing .195/.305/.311 with six home runs, 32 RBI, four stolen bases and 30 runs in 76 games. He figures to begin 2026 at Double-A Montgomery after rejoining Tampa Bay's farm system.
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Rays' Cole Sulser: Avoids arbitration with Rays
Rotowire
The Rays and Sulser avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.05 million contract, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Sulser receives a small raise in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Slated to turn 36 in March, Sulser made 18 appearances out of the Rays' bullpen in 2025, collecting a 1.99 ERA and 22:7 K:BB over 22.2 innings. He'll likely fill a middle relief role in 2026.
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Rays' Jake Woodford: Nabs NRI deal with Rays
Rotowire
The Rays signed Woodford to a minor-league contract Friday with an invitation to spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Woodford made 22 relief appearances for the Diamondbacks this season, posting a 6.44 ERA and 23:13 K:BB over 36.1 frames. The 29-year-old right will compete for a spot on the Rays' Opening Day roster but is likely to begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Durham.
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