By As the Tampa Bay Rays gather in Port Charlotte for spring training, there is a sense of both excitement and urgency.
Urgency, because this team has missed the playoffs the last two seasons, and is looking to reassert itself in what has become the toughest division in baseball, the American League.
Every team in the AL East improved its roster this offseason, while the Rays cut payroll and are a much weaker team offensively than they were last season.
The Rays will be missing some familiar faces this spring as Pete Fairbanks, Shane Baz, Brandon Lowe, and Josh Lowe were all traded during the offseason.
In their place, the Rays added infielder Gavin Lux, outfielders Cedric Mullens and Jake Fraley, along with pitchers Steven Matz and Nick Martinez.
This spring training, three major storylines will play out.
- The health of the Rays’ starting rotation
- Finding a closer
- Finding some offensive consistency
How good will this 2026 Rays rotation be?
It depends on Shane McClanahan’s health. When healthy, McClanahan remains one of the best starters in baseball.
McClanahan has not pitched in two seasons so that he will be brought along slowly in spring training.
Ryan Pepiot, Drew Rasmussen, and two new arms will fill out the Rays’ rotation this season.
Steven Matz and Nick Martinez are the two new additions to the starting rotation.
The Left-handed Matz went 5-2 last season with Boston and St. Louis, with a 3.05 ERA and 59 strikeouts.
Nick Martinez will round out the rotation. Martinez signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Rays this week, just before the official opening of training camp, with an option for 2027.
The 36-year-old Martinez went 11-14 with Cincinnati last season, compiling a 4.45 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 40 walks.
Last year’s closer, Pete Fairbanks, signed with the Miami Marlins over the winter, so the Rays will need to find a closer, and there are plenty to choose from those already on the roster.
It may be a closer-by-committee approach for the Rays, as Edwin Uceta, Griffin Jax, and Garrett Cleavinger are all candidates to close this season.
Offensively, the Rays will be missing Brandon Lowe this season. Lowe was traded to Pittsburgh this offseason, and his 31 home runs are not easily replaced.
The Rays are high on rookie Jacob Melton, who was acquired from Houston, and the team is hoping that Cedric Mullens can return to his 2021 form when he hit a career high 30 home runs.
Mullens hit 17 homers and drove in 59 runs with Baltimore and the New York Mets last season.
As training camp commences in Port Charlotte, here is our not-too-early stab at predicting the Rays’ twenty-five-man roster for the 2026 season.
Catcher
Nick Fortes, Hunter Fedducia. Both of these catchers were acquired at the trade deadline last season, and the Rays have done nothing to improve this position.
If the platoon of Fortes and Fedducia falters, we could see Rays Prospect Dominic Keegan called up mid-season.
Offensively, both were a major disappointment last season. Expecting big improvements from Fedducia this season.
Infielders
Jonathan Aranda, Gavin Lux, Taylor Walls, Junior Camienero, and either Ryan Vilade, Justyn Malloy, or Ben Williamson. Two of those three should make the opening day roster.
Aranda will get most of the time at first base this season, while the newly acquired Gavin Lux will play second.
Walls will be the everyday shortstop on most days, with Caminero handling the third base duties.
Williamson, acquired from the Mariners, is excellent defensively and can also play shortstop and second base.
Malloy, acquired from the Tigers, will compete for a utility spot with Ryan Vilade this spring.
Unless Carson Williams knocks the cover off the ball this spring, he will open the season at AAA Durham.
In 99 at-bats last season, Williams hit a disappointing .172 with five homers and 12 runs batted in.
Outfield
Chandler Simpson, Jonny DeLuca, Jake Fraley, Cedric Mullins, Jacob Melton
Simpson’s defense needs work, but his speed and the pressure he puts on opposing defenses can’t be duplicated. The Rays need Mullins to have a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
DH:
Yandy Diaz. He will spend most of his time at DH, but may see a handful of games at first base. Diaz is coming off the second-best season of his career, where he hit .300 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs.
Starting Pitchers:
Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Steven Matz, Nick Martinez
Pitching continues to be the strength of the Tampa Bay Rays. Should someone falter, the Rays have Joe Boyle, Ian Seymour, and Mason Englert waiting in the wings.
Bullpen:
Griffin Jax, Edwin Uceta, Garrett Cleavinger, Bryan Baker, Hunter Bigge, Cole Sulser, Yoendrys Gomez.
The first six are set. After that, who knows? Gomez is out of options, so he will need to make the roster.
