Tampa Bay Rays: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Rays Need To Improve This Area to Remain Competitive in AL East

With the offseason well underway for the Tampa Bay Rays, recent moves by division rivals have further created a need for them to upgrade in a key area. Coming into the winter, the Rays had some precise needs that they wanted to address.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Rays interested in Zach Eflin, Adrian Houser

The Rays are known to be perusing the market for shorter-term starting pitching help as they look to fill out their 2026 rotation, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that a pair of familiar names are being discussed by the team as potential targets: right-handers Zach Eflin and Adrian Houser.

Pete Fairbanks News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 30

Market Value for Rays' Free Agent Pete Fairbanks Starts to Take Shape

With a recent signing by the Baltimore Orioles, the market and the value of Tampa Bay Rays’ free agent closer Pete Fairbanks has become a bit clearer. While there haven’t been a plethora of major moves just yet in free agency, there have been some deals starting to trickle in day by day.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 30

Orioles Signing Star Closer Widens Gap in AL East for Rays This Offseason

The offseason is starting to heat up with free agents beginning to sign with their new teams. Even though the Tampa Bay Rays will be relatively quiet on that front, their division has already been very aggressive. Coming into the winter, there was some slight hope that with new ownership, the Rays might look to make a splash this offseason.

Seattle Mariners News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most home runs by a switch hitter' quiz

A Major League switch hitter has hit at least 35 home runs on 35 occasions in MLB history. How many of the switch hitters to reach that milestone can you name in five minutes?

The 'MLB home run leaders since 1997' quiz

The 'Multiple MLB 30/30 seasons' quiz

The 'MLB home run record by position' quiz

Pete Fairbanks News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 29

Surprise NL East Team Named Potential Landing Spot for Rays' Pete Fairbanks

With the winter meetings coming up right around the corner for the Tampa Bay Rays, one of their free agents continues to draw interest. Even though the Rays very rarely have free agents come from their team, that is the case this year with two pitchers from the team.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 MLB players on the brink of stardom in 2026

The stars were out in full force during the 2025 World Series. From Max Scherzer in Toronto to Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and of course, Shohei Ohtani, in Los Angeles, there was no shortage of the game's best under the brightest lights.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 29

Rays' Top Prospect Reveals He Had Life-Saving Brain Surgery

As the offseason continues for the Tampa Bay Rays, a top prospect of theirs recently revealed what ended his season early in 2025. With the winter starting up for the Rays, the team has been focused on trying to get better.

Xavier Isaac News / MLB Trade Rumors / November 29

Rays former first-round pick 'fully recovered' after brain surgery

Xavier Isaac revealed in an Instagram post that he actually underwent a "life-saving" brain surgery on July 3, following a routine brain scan for what seemed to be just a dehydration issue.

Pete Fairbanks News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 28

Bullpen Can Be Strength for Rays Even Without Pete Fairbanks at Closer

The Tampa Bay Rays surprised a lot of people when they decided to decline the club option on closer Pete Fairbanks. There were already several weaknesses on the roster that had to be addressed this offseason.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 28

Rays Slugger Could Be Game-Changer if Made Available in Trade Talks

With the winter meetings right around the corner for the Tampa Bay Rays, things should start to heat up between now and then. So far, the Rays have made a lot of minor roster moves to help set up the team for 2026, but there is still a good amount of work to be done.

Pete Fairbanks News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 28

Rays Former Closer Pete Fairbanks Has Reportedly Been in Talks With NL Contender

The Tampa Bay Rays surprised a lot of people when they decided to decline the club option they possessed on closer Pete Fairbanks for the 2026 season. Instead of exercising it and paying him $11 million, they opted to pay a $1 million buyout instead, making him a free agent.

Christopher Morel News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 28

Rays Non-Tendered Outfielder Named a Potential Good Fit for Guardians

The Tampa Bay Rays began their much-needed reshaping of the outfield when they announced that Christopher Morel was designated for assignment, and then they decided to non-tender him.

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest pitching seasons from the modern MLB era

America's favorite pastime has more memorable performances than any sport. As such, figuring out which pitchers had the best seasons ever is no easy task.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 27

Former MLB Executive Labels This Area as Need for Rays To Improve This Offseason

With the offseason continuing on for the Tampa Bay Rays, the team will be focusing on trying to improve a couple of key areas. As shown by the team finishing eight games under the .500 mark in 2025, there are some areas that they would like to improve upon.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 27

Rays Should Be Thankful for This Key Reason on Thanksgiving This Year

With Thanksgiving here for the Tampa Bay Rays, the fanbase and the franchise have plenty to be thankful for. As free agency and the offseason continue to move along, things have been relatively quiet for the most part.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Five game-winning-drives in a season' quiz

The 'Turkey Leg/Galloping Gobbler winners' quiz

The 'Three-TD, Three-INT NFL games' quiz

The 'Most 3-TD, 0-INT NFL games' quiz

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 27

Rays Reportedly Add Former Orioles Manager to Front Office Role

The Tampa Bay Rays have been relatively busy this winter in terms of roster moves, but they have reportedly made a nice addition to their front office as well.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 27

Blue Jays Signing Star Pitcher Makes Things Increasingly Difficult for Rays

With the offseason rolling on for the Tampa Bay Rays, they recently saw a division rival get even better with a massive addition to their starting rotation. Coming into the winter, the Rays knew that their division was going to be active and trying to improve.

Christopher Morel News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 27

Rays Moved On From Christopher Morel With Cons Outweighing the Pros

The Tampa Bay Rays made a bold decision when they traded third baseman Isaac Paredes to the Chicago Cubs ahead of the MLB trade deadline in 2024. He was named an All-Star that year and still had multiple seasons of team control.

Tampa Bay Rays News / DRaysBay / November 27

Five Rule 5 Pitching Prospects for the Rays bullpen

There are many interesting players who were left unprotected by other organizations following the recent Rule 5 roster deadline, and some of them look like they could fit in the bullpen if the Rays wanted to try their luck again after drafting two such prospects last offseason.

Brandon Hyde News / MLB Trade Rumors / November 26

Rays discussing adviser role with former Orioles manager Brandon Hyde

The two parties have been discussing a senior adviser role that would see Hyde work with both the major league club and various minor league affiliates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times adds.

Jake Fraley News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 26

Rays Still Need Corner Outfield Help Even With Jake Fraley Returning to Team

One of the biggest needs that the Tampa Bay Rays had coming into the offseason was to upgrade their outfield. This team struggled to find consistent production from that positional group throughout 2025.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / November 26

MLB Executive Believes Rays Are Going to Start Increasing Spending Soon

The offseason has started for the Tampa Bay Rays, and the team has begun to make some moves to improve their roster and fill some holes for 2026. Coming into the winter, the Rays knew that they were going to be a team that needed to make some improvements in order to keep pace in the American League East.

Jake Fraley News / Last Word On Sports / November 26