Tampa Bay Rays: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Andrew Wantz Elects Free Agency

The Rays announced that right-hander Andrew Wantz has cleared waivers and elected free agency. Tampa designated him for assignment a few days ago. He has a previous career outright, which gives him the right to reject further outright assignments in favor of the open market.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

3 Rays Players Who Disappointed the Most in May

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to be near the top of the standings with a 36-21 record, but they have hit a bit of a rough patch recently. This is the first real adversity the team has faced, losing six out of their last eight games played.

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

Ranking Three Best Players for Rays In Great Month of May

With the best record in the American League heading into June, May was another stellar month for the Tampa Bay Rays. As expected, it was a team effort,

Tampa Bay Rays News / DRaysBay / June 1

Next time maybe don’t give up so many runs? Rays 9 Tigers 10

Which is more painful, losing a blowout? Or climbing back into a blowout and then losing by just one run? From the Rays standpoint, this game felt like one of those punishments imposed by the gods in Greek myth.

Shohei Ohtani News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Foreign-born 250-HR club' quiz

How many of the 53 Major League Baseball players not born in the United States of America with 250 or more career home runs can you name in seven minutes?

The 'Last 30-HR season by MLB team' quiz

The 'Most K's to start an MLB career' quiz

The 'Active 40-HR MLB seasons' quiz

Chandler Simpson News / Larry Brown Sports / June 1

Chandler Simpson suffers a bizarre injury on a stolen base

Chandler Simpson was a victim of his own blinding speed during Monday’s game. The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Simpson suffered an unusual injury in the middle of his team’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers.

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in MLB history

Not every all-timer has instant success at the next level. For many baseball players, it takes a few bumps in the road out of the gate before they ever reach stardom.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Field Level Media / June 1

Rays’ Chandler Simpson (mouth), Taylor Walls (hamstring) exit vs. Tigers

The Tampa Bay Rays lost left fielder Chandler Simpson to a cut and bloodied mouth and shortstop Taylor Walls to hamstring tightness during their series opener against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Monday.

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

Rays Have 3 New Prospects Debut in Organization’s Top 10

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a great spot with the calendar flipping over to June. Not only do they hold the best record in the American League at 36-20, putting them 1.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East, but they also own the No.

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

Rays Series Preview Against Tigers at Tropicana Field

The last week of Tampa Bay Rays baseball against the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels got a little dicey. After a back-and-forth boxing match on Monday that saw Colton Cowser deliver the knockout blow with a walk-off homer, the Rays let the following two games slide.

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

Rays Unfairly Drop Too Far in MLB Power Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays have been playing some great baseball this year, but had a rare slip-up this week. However, despite a losing week, the team still holds the best record in the American League. It has been a shockingly good start to the campaign for the Rays.

MLB News / Larry Brown Sports / June 1

Craig Kimbrel’s Rays stint takes an unfortunate turn after just one appearance

The Tampa Bay Rays will have to wait a little longer before they can send veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel back to the mound. After just one appearance with Tampa Bay, Kimbrel was placed by the Rays on the 15-day injured list on Sunday due to a right wrist strain, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Jonathan Aranda News / Field Level Media / May 31

Jonathan Aranda's hitting has Rays looking for win vs. reeling Tigers

Tampa Bay's Jonathan Aranda will look to keep swinging a hot bat when the Rays begin their three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday night in St.

MLB News / Yardbarker

Which 20 players have hit four home runs in an MLB game?

The only two things rarer in modern-day baseball than the four-homer game is the Triple Crown and the unassisted triple play. The former is, of course, done over an entire season, while there's a large level of lucky in the unassisted triple play.

Shane McClanahan News / Field Level Media / May 31

Shane McClanahan helps Rays knock off Angels

Shane McClanhan stayed perfect at home with five strong innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays claimed their sixth straight home series with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon in St.

MLB News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / May 31

Rays Get Back on Track Taking Series Finale Against Angels

The Tampa Bay Rays entered their series with the Los Angeles Angels on a low note. They were just swept by the Baltimore Orioles, coming into the weekend on a four-game losing streak, which was their longest of the season to this point.

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

The '20-point Stanley Cup Playoffs' quiz

The 'Last 10 3-pointer NBA game by team' quiz

The 'Men's French Open champions' quiz

The 'Foreign-born 250-HR club' quiz

Craig Kimbrel News / Ball Exclusives / May 31

Tampa Bay Rays place Craig Kimbrel on injured list after one game

Less than a week ago, the Tampa Bay Rays signed right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel, but he’s now headed to the injured list after just one appearance. He was placed on the IL due to a right wrist strain and the move was made retroactive to Thursday.

Yandy Diaz News / Tampa Bay Rays on SI / May 31

Yandy Diaz Looking To Join Exclusive List Against Angels

The Tampa Bay Rays are in the midst of their toughest week of the season, losing five out of their last six games against the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels.

Jon Heasley News / MLB Trade Rumors / May 30

Rays Outright Jon Heasley

Right-hander Jon Heasley has cleared waivers and been outrighted to the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate. (Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported the move shortly before the team’s official announcement.) Heasley isn’t able to decline the outright assignment, so he’ll return to Durham and await his next selection to the active roster.

Carson Williams News / Athlon Sports / May 29

Why Did the Rays Demote Former Top Prospect Carson Williams After 12 Games?

The Tampa Bay Rays have chosen to send their former No. 1 prospect Carson Williams back to Triple-A Durham after a rough 12 game stretch. The shortstop was drafted by the Rays in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft and quickly soared to the top of the organizations prospect rankings.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Athlon Sports / May 29

Rays' Reliever Suffers 2nd Injury Setback

This isn't good news for the Tampa Bay Rays and their bullpen. Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters on Friday that relief pitcher Edwin Uceta (right shoulder impingement) suffered a setback after he extended his throwing to 75 feet.

Tampa Bay Rays News / MLB Trade Rumors / May 29

Rays Designate Jon Heasley For Assignment, Select Andrew Wantz

The Rays announced that they have reinstated infielder Ben Williamson from the 10-day injured list and selected the contract of right-hander Andrew Wantz.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Total Pro Sports / May 28

Nasty Scene As Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Pukes All Over The Mound In The Middle Of The Game

A Tampa Bay Rays pitcher had a unique performance in his first MLB appearance in two seasons. One would think he was a rookie making his debut, but at 29, Heasley has multiple games under his belt.

Tampa Bay Rays News / Just Baseball / May 28

Will the Rays’ Rotation Continue To Shine Brightly This Season?

The Tampa Bay Rays have emerged as a dominant force in the American League to begin this season. While many pegged them as a likely last-place finisher in a division filled with big spenders, they are pacing the pack at 34-19.

MLB News / Yardbarker / May 27

Future Hall of Fame closer joins the best team in AL

His dominance in the closer role for the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2015 was among the greatest four-year stretches for any closer ever. Recently, though, it has been a rough go for the soon-to-be 38-year-old veteran.

Tigers manager drops huge Tarik Skubal injury update

How the Tigers could boost the trade market for ace Skubal

Luis Castillo showed frustration after getting pulled from his start against A's

Jacob Misiorowski had the best response to his historic performance

Yankees make franchise history with hit parade in 15-1 win over Royals

Colton Cowser News / Yardbarker / May 25

Colton Cowser plays hero for Orioles with second straight walk-off home run

A majority of MLB players finish their careers without a walk-off home run. For someone to do it twice in two days is the rarest of rare occurrence. For Cowser, though, he just lived out a dream with that exact scenario.

O's beat Rays in 13 on another Colton Cowser walk-off HR

Tyler O'Neill's continuous struggles put future with Orioles into question

The 'Last 30-HR season by MLB team' quiz

Wander Franco News / Larry Brown Sports / May 26

Wander Franco sentenced in sexual abuse case

Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been sentenced after being alleged to have sexually exploited a minor. Franco was found guilty of sexual and psychological exploitation of a minor stemming from his relationship with a 14-year-old girl.