Tampa Bay Rays get king's ransom in Brandon Lowe, Shane Baz trades

The Tampa Bay Rays were busy on Friday.

First, the Rays traded second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and reliever Mason Montgomery to the Pirates as part of a three team trade, receiving pitching prospect Anderson Brito and outfielder Jacob Melton from the Astros. Then the Rays traded pitcher Shane Baz to the Orioles, receiving a quartet of prospects — outfielders Slater de Brun and Austin Overn, pitcher Michael Forret and catcher Caden Bodine — and the Orioles Competitive Balance Round A draft pick.

The Rays traded significant talent. Lowe was an All-Star in 2025, belting 31 homers as he reached the 30-homer plateau for the second time in his career. Lowe, however, has just one year of team control remaining. Montgomery is a power lefty in the bullpen, firing a fastball in the upper 90s. Mangum was a 29-year-old rookie but stole 27 bases while performing well defensively. Baz has been a mercurial talent, showing ace potential but has struggled with injuries.

Tampa Bay Rays get significant return in pair of trades

However, those trades have set the Rays up for the future. Brito, de Brun, Forret and Melton all slot as top-10 prospects in the Rays system, per MLB.com. Bodine (13th) and Overn (22nd) are also in the Rays top-30 prospect list.

Melton struggled during a 30-game trial in Houston, posting a .157/.234/.186 batting line with only one extra base hit. However, he fits the Rays profile — a plus runner who can steal bases and hit for power while capable of playing all three outfield spots.

De Brun fits the other side of the Rays' preferences in the outfield. Although he is yet to make his professional debut, he is lauded for his ability to make contact and strong batting eye, letting him get on base to use his plus speed. De Brun is regarded as a plus defender and should be the Rays future in center.

The biggest prizes in the pair of trades could be the two pitching prospects. Brito is considered to have a pair of plus offerings in his mid 90s fastball that can reach 99 mph and a sweeping two plane slider. His curve has flashed plus and has promising depth. Brito also throws a promising changeup, but it is still a work in progress. The biggest question is his durability — Brito only threw 61 innings between A-ball and the Arizona Fall League due to injuries. His control wavered as the season went on, furthering his potential reliever risk.

Forret, meanwhile, appears likely to stick in the rotation. While he does not have a single plus offering, he has a strong arsenal with a mid-90s four-seam fastball and a sinking two-seamer, two different sliders and a pair of changeups, one of which has more of a splitter movement. Forret has an impressive command of his arsenal, helping him to reach Double-A as a 21-year-old. If he can continue to dominate in the minors, Forret could make his major league debut next season.

There was a time when it felt as though the Rays won every trade they made, trading established major league players or prospects at just the right time to maximize their value. That reputation has taken a hit in recent years, especially as the Rays fell down the standings in 2024 and 2025. Friday's flurry of action could change the narrative once more as the Rays received an impressive prospect haul to restock their system.