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Tampa Bay Rays Slip Three Spots in MLB Power Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joe Rutland | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 6:00 PM ET

In their last 10 games, the Tampa Bay Rays have gone 4-6 and watched the Toronto Blue Jays overtake the New York Yankees atop the American League East Division. While the Rays would love to be in the Blue Jays' position, that's not happening anytime soon.

What Tampa Bay needs, besides an improving offense, is pitching help. The Rays might be getting some good news with Shane McClanahan returning to the rotation. But the team's recent struggles are reflected in the latest MLB Power Rankings from The Athletic.

This week, the Rays slipped down to No. 12 after being in the No. 9 slot. Chad Jennings of The Athletic offers some perspective on what's happening with Tampa Bay at this time.

"Is Shane McClanahan the sport’s biggest trade deadline addition?" Jennings wrote. "No one is suggesting the Rays are going to trade McClanahan, but they should get him back off the IL right around the trade deadline.

Tampa Bay Rays looking for Shane McClanahan to get back into pitching rotation very soon, just in time for postseason push

"That’s a potential ace joining a team on the playoff bubble," Jennings wrote. "And if McClanahan is at his best, he could push the Rays into a wild card spot with a rotation that should worry everyone — McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, Zack Littell, Shane Baz — along with a sneaky good offense that’s top five in the AL in runs per game.

"Adding a homegrown ace to fuel a second-half playoff run would be one of the most Rays things imaginable," Jennings wrote. "And it could happen (or they could sell at the deadline and try again next year)."

Rays fans, though, got some bad news about McClanahan on Tuesday. According to Rays TV reporter Ryan Bass, the team is pushing back McClanahan's scheduled rehab start on Thursday due to a sore bicep. Rays manager Kevin Cash addressed the issue as well before Tuesday's game.

Jonathan Aranda is getting really comfortable speaking English in front of a camera, love to see it pic.twitter.com/YkYMaglyuC
— Jake (@TBRaysCentral) July 20, 2025

"He's frustrated, rightfully so, because he wants to be here," Cash said. "He wants to help us, so he could get a ball right back in his hand in the next two or three days.

"Generally, when we're talking about bicep tendonitis, that clears up pretty quick...it was more the build up and some fatigue that crept in there," Cash said. "We do not think that it is nerve related to the tricep. It's total opposite side with everything."

McClanahan took to X on Tuesday and posted his own comments directed toward the Rays' fans. "Rays fans. I know you’re frustrated, i am too," McClanahan wrote. "This process has been anything but easy coming back from a completely freak injury. I want you to know that I’m busting my ass and doing everything i can to be back to who you know i can be and what i know i can be."

If you don't know, the MLB Trade Deadline hits on July 31. That's just a little over a week away and the Rays, much like other MLB teams in playoff contention, are looking to improve their 40-man roster. Entering Wednesday's action, Tampa Bay is 53-49 on the season, 6.5 games behind Toronto in the AL East.

Jonathan Aranda paces the Tampa Bay offense with a .316 average while Junior Caminero anchors the Rays' sluggers with 25 home runs and 65 RBIs, according to StatMuse.

As trade talk keeps stirring around MLB, it would not be a surprise to see Tampa Bay fill either a buyer or seller role. Getting to postseason play this season, especially while playing their games at George M. Steinbrenner Field, would be quite an event. Knowing the Rays, it just might happen.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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