2025 MLB Season Recap: Tampa Bay Rays

The Pitching

The Good

One of the more interesting plotlines for the Rays in 2025 was how Steinbreener Field, the spring home of the Yankees, would play in a regular-season setting. Between the heat, air circulation, and different dimensions, it was going to be a different game for Tampa.

It didn’t play as small but Steinbrenner Field was very kind to the likes of Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, and Junior Caminero. Aranda, Caminero, and Lowe were all All-Stars.

Aranda finished in the top 20 in wOBA (.381) this season among hitters with 350 plate appearances. The 27-year-old posted an on-base percentage of .393, establishing himself as a regular after he bounced around the Minors and the injured list over the last few seasons.

Diaz hit a career-best 25 home runs in what was another strong year, two seasons after he posted a .932 OPS. And as for Caminero, the second-year third baseman had a phenomenal year. Caminero hit 45 home runs and 73 extra-base hits, both totals that ranked in the top ten in each respective category.

Caminero becomes the next big building block in Tampa, one who, despite his swing-and-miss tendencies, has the potential to be a regular 40-home run hitter — especially now that the Rays will return to Tropicana Field and its short left field porch.

As for Lowe, the veteran second baseman hit 31 home runs and played 134 games this season. Health has been a sticking point for Lowe over the years. He stayed mostly healthy in 2025 and put up his best numbers in four seasons.

The pitching staff, meanwhile, was an overall strength. Even though the Rays’ pitching staff ranked in the bottom third of the league in home runs allowed, there were many success stories.

Perhaps the largest one was Drew Rasmussen, the 30-year-old who paced the team in ERA+ (149). Rasmussen wasn’t a big strikeout pitcher this season. However, what made Rasmussen was his ability to mix it up with opposing hitters.

The veteran finished in the top 20 in the Majors last year among weak contact –in this case, less or equal to 70 MPH exit velocity — instances. Twenty-nine instances, to be exact.

Rasmussen led a solid rotation, one that included Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz, both of whom racked up strikeouts.

As for the bullpen, it was plenty good. Edwin Uceta struck out 103 over 76 innings, finishing in the top 20 in K/9 (12.2) among relievers. Pete Fairbanks notched 27 saves, while the Rays also had impressive results from Garrett Cleavinger (12.0 K/9, 175 ERA+).

The Bad

The schedule was not kind to the Rays in the second half.

Thanks to Tropicana Field being unable to host, the Rays had home games stacked up in the first half. It made for what was a road-heavy second half, something that didn’t go in Tampa Bay’s favor given that the team went 36-45 on the road. The Rays went 27-38 in the second half.

The Rays’ offense wasn’t as potent in the second half. Tampa Bay scored the fifth-fewest runs (265).

Josh Lowe had a tough second half, in particular. He slashed .193/.250/.333 after the break.

There were other problems afoot. Christopher Morel, who was non-tendered in November, slashed .219/.289/.396 (.684 OPS) overall in 2025. Morel was acquired in July 2024 in the Isaac Paredes deal. He could be considered an analytics favorite thanks to his power and bat speed. However, that power can only go so far if it makes contact.

Morel, in that regard, came up short.

The 26-year-old whiffed 38.9% of the time last season, which would have ranked among the league’s worst had he qualified.

Morel is also not an average defender, problematic if the bat isn’t coming through. It’s why Taylor Walls, despite being a below-average hitter, remains in central Florida.

As for the pitching staff, Taj Bradley posted a 4.61 ERA with the Rays before he was shipped out to get Griffin Jax. Bradley, once a top prospect in the Rays’ system, had trouble missing bats before he was demoted and ultimately moved.

Early Projected Lineup for 2026

• C: Nick Fortes
• 1B: Jonathan Aranda
• 2B: Brandon Lowe
• 3B: Junior Caminero
• SS: Carson Williams/Taylor Walls
• OF: Chandler Simpson (LF), Jake Mangum/Jonny DeLuca (CF), Josh Lowe (RF)
• DH: Yandy Diaz
• SP: Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Shane Baz, Shane McClanahan, Ian Seymour
• RP: Griffin Jax, Manuel Rodriguez, Edwin Uceta, Steven Wilson, Mason Montgomery, Garrett Cleavinger, Hunter Bigge, Bryan Baker

The Rays didn’t pick up Fairbanks’ 2026 option, which means a new primary stopper will emerge. It may very well be Uceta, who excelled out of the bullpen in each of the last two seasons.

As for the rotation, Shane McClanahan missed another full season. If he can stay healthy, it’ll make that rotation that much stronger if he can regain the form he showed back in 2023.

Moving to the lineup, the Rays have a young left side of the infield. Carson Williams has big power when he makes contact. The problem, though, is that making contact was a problem in the Minors.

Lastly, it’ll be good to see The Trop back in action next year.