Tampa Bay Rays: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

This Rays Star Slugger Has Drastically Improved One Key Stat to Start 2026

After a breakout 2025 season driven by raw power, Tampa Bay Rays star third baseman Junior Caminero is showing signs of a more complete hitter in 2026 — thanks to improved plate discipline.

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Preview, Preview: Rays vs Twins in American League Showdown

The Tampa Bay Rays will be getting set for the second game of their series against the Minnesota Twins, and the team will be attempting to bounce back from a bad opener. Following losing their first two series of the season, the Rays came into Minnesota, hoping to get some kind of momentum going against a Twins team that isn’t very good.

Tampa Bay Rays News / DRaysBay / April 4

Defense, Defense, Defense

Defense, defense, defense Rays lose 10-4 on a cold home opener in Minneapolis Nick Fortes continued his red-hot April with a two-RBI double to open the scoring in the first. Jake Fraley led off the fourth inning with a double, and Ben Williamson swapped spots on the bases with Fraley with another double.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 4

Pirates Named Potential Landing Spot for Rays Slugger in Trade

However, it is never too soon to start evaluating which players could be made available ahead of the MLB trade deadline. The Rays have the starting pitching to contend for a playoff spot, but their bullpen has been brutal, and their lineup is inconsistent, especially beyond their Big 3 of Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero.

New York Yankees News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Active MLB wins leaders' quiz

How many of the active pitchers to win at least 80 games can you name in five minutes?

The '2026 Opening Day starting pitchers' quiz

The 'Most MLB Opening Day K's by team' quiz

The 'Youngest MLB 30/30 seasons' quiz

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 4

Injury to Key Relief Pitcher Comes at Bad Time with Rays' Bullpen Struggling

The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t off to the start to the season that they would have liked, but luckily, it is still early. However, there is reason to be concerned about one unit, and recent news was not ideal. Coming into the year, the Rays had some high hopes for the campaign following a challenging 2025 season.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

One storyline to follow for every MLB team in 2026

As Spring Training opens for 2026, all 30 teams have high hopes and big questions. These are the storylines to follow for each team heading into Opening Day.

Red Sox to sign former Yankees relief pitcher ahead of Opening Day

MLB announces 80-game suspension for Johan Rojas

Mets star gets help from former teammate after clubhouse issues

Three comeback arms to watch in National League East

Five X factors in the AL Central

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 3

Rays Shockingly Move Up Despite Losing Record in MLB Power Rankings

As the Tampa Bay Rays get set to wrap up their road trip over the weekend, the team has surprisingly moved up in recent MLB power rankings. Coming off a disappointing campaign in 2025 and a busy winter, the Rays had some high hopes to be better this season.

Garrett Cleavinger News / Field Level Media / April 3

Rays place LHP Garrett Cleavinger (calf tightness) on IL

The Tampa Bay Rays placed reliever Garrett Cleavinger on the 15-day injured list Friday with right calf tightness. The move is retroactive to Tuesday for the 31-year-old left-hander, who is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three appearances.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 3

Rays vs Twins Series Preview in American League Matchup

The first week’s worth of Tampa Rays baseball has been played, and there’s a lot to take away. The hitting feasted against mediocre St. Louis Cardinals pitching and then expectedly fell to earth against a notoriously tough lot of Milwaukee Brewers arms.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 3

Preview: Rays vs Twins in Series Opener

The Tampa Bay Rays are getting ready for the final three games of their nine-game road trip with a weekend series against the Minnesota Twins. Following losing their first two series of the year, the Rays will be hungry to win this one. It has not been an ideal start to the season for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 2

Rays Have One Noticeable Positive Takeaway From First Week

The Tampa Bay Rays have finished up their first two series of the year against the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately, they lost

Tampa Bay Rays News / DRaysBay / April 2

Five numbers from the Rays first week of games

The Rays have completed their first week of games facing off against a pair of NL Central teams. Below are five early trends to watch as the Rays look to build momentum in April.

Athletics News / Yardbarker

25 MLB players that could be traded during the 2026 season

The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, and it is never too early to start thinking about how it might unfold. Seemingly, every year, we have a decent handle on who should contend and who is likely to struggle, which makes looking ahead to the trade deadline inevitable.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 2

4 Biggest Takeaways for Rays From Series Against Brewers

The Tampa Bay Rays wrapped up their second series of the season, this time on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers. Disappointingly, there were some similarities to this three-game set as there were in their first one against another National League Central squad, the St.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 2

Struggles of Key Relief Pitcher for Rays is Concerning

The Tampa Bay Rays once again were unable to take a series to start the season, losing the rubber game against the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 8-2.

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The 'NCAA men's basketball champions' quiz

The 'NBA two's leaders by season' quiz

The 'Active 2K-point NBA seasons' quiz

The 'NBA yearly free throw leaders' quiz

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 2

Rays' Slugger Wisely Seen as Top Trade Chip in Baseball This Season

With the season underway for the Tampa Bay Rays, there is still hope that the team can be a contender in the 2026 campaign. However, they are a franchise that does feature some good veteran talent if they end up looking to be sellers. This winter, in typical Rays fashion, they were both buyers and sellers.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Last Word On Sports / April 1

Breaking Down the Rays’ Lineup Construction

Does lineup construction really matter? That’s a question bouncing around Tampa Bay Rays land to begin the season. The answer is more no than yes, as long as you’re not being irrational.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / April 1

Rays Bullpen Implodes Again To Give Game Away vs Brewers

The Tampa Bay Rays have a major problem that has emerged in their first two series of the 2026 regular season. Their bullpen has not been able to get the job done, already imploding multiple times through the first six games of the campaign.

Drew Rasmussen News / DRaysBay / April 1

Strong start by Drew Rasmussen undone by errors: Rays 2, Brewers 8

Early season schedules are a peculiarity, and a getaway game on an early April afternoon is one of those things. The Rays were licking their wounds from a rough loss on Tuesday night—but a blessedly solid outing from the returning Shane McClanahan—and were hoping to come away with a series win before hitting the road.

MLB News / ESPN / April 1