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DRaysBay

https://www.draysbay.com/ | 135 entries published

A Tampa Bay Rays Blog: Ball on a Budget

Latest Entries

2026 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 16

Previous Winner Slater de Brun, OF18 | L/L | 5’10” | 187 Drafted 37th overall in 2025, through a draft pick traded by the Rays, de Brun was essentially re-acquired in the Shane Baz trade. Like many Rays outfield prospects he’s not expected to develop much power, but compensates with an ability to hit to […]

about 9 hours ago | 0 reads

Rays sign SP Nick Martinez

The Tampa Bay Rays have added veteran starting pitcher Nick Martinez on a multi-year contract, with $13 million guaranteed overall. He’ll slot into a rotation that features Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot as guaranteed starters, a reliever looking to convert to starting in newcomer Steven Matz, and former All-Star Shane McClanahan, who is seeking a […]

about 10 hours ago | 0 reads

Which offseason decision makes you nervous?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! You’re never going to love every move the front office makes, but which one is the […]

about 15 hours ago | 0 reads

Is this team actually going to contend or are they just pretending?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! Players start reporting later this week, and the roster is essentially set. Is it enough to […]

1 day ago | 0 reads

Are you excited to get back to Tropicana Field, or will you miss outdoor baseball?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! For years folks have said baseball belongs outdoors and not on artificial turf made from coconuts. […]

3 days ago | 0 reads

Rays acquire OF Victor Mesa Jr. from Miami Marlins

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Cuban outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. from the Miami Marlins, adding a left handed fourth outfielder to the Spring Training mix. He has an option remaining, and will be competing with Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios for an outfield slated to already include two left handed hitters in Jake Fraley […]

3 days ago | 0 reads

What would a successful 2026 season look like?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! Yes that means you get to define “success” in your response!

4 days ago | 0 reads

Previewing the Rays 2026 Infield Group

The Rays have done some shuffling among their infield group this offseason. Most notably, they traded away Brandon Lowe and have continued to prioritize bat-to-ball and plate skills over whiff-prone power bats. Gavin Lux was acquired as a stop gap at 2B, and Ben Williamson’s recent acquisition makes him the front runner to fill a […]

5 days ago | 0 reads

Which year permanently changed how you watch baseball?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! For better or for worse, we all have that moment that broke the glass, and changed […]

5 days ago | 0 reads

2026 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 14

Previous Winner Caden Bodine, C22 | S/R| 5’10” | 200A (BAL) | .326/.408/.349 (133 wRC+) 49 PA, 0 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 8 K Drafted 30th overall in 2025, Bodine was acquired in the Shane Baz trade. He profiles as a relatively safe prospect thanks to 60 grade bat-to-ball skills, and comfortably-plus blocking and […]

MLB

5 days ago | 0 reads

Ron DeSantis, Rob Manfred show support for new Rays stadium at Hillsborough College

Today, Governor DeSantis and MLB Commissioner Manfred gathered with Hillsborough College President Ken Atwater and Rays CEO Ken Babby to show a united front in the effort to build a Rays stadium at the current Hillsborough College site. “Baseball belongs in Tampa Bay,” DeSantis said. “Baseball can succeed in Tampa Bay.” Governor DeSantis led off, […]

6 days ago | 0 reads

Which player do you defend no matter what the numbers say?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! Which player has your unwavering belief? Forget the performance on the field yesterday, you have your […]

7 days ago | 0 reads

Rays acquire 3B Ben Williamson in three-team deal

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired slick fielding third baseman Ben Williamson from the Seattle Mariners as part of a three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that will generally be known as the Donovan trade: Drafted 57th overall in 2023 after what Baseball America called a “monstrous senior season” at William & Mary, Williamson […]

7 days ago | 3 reads

MLB to Produce and Distribute Rays Broadcast

The Tampa Bay Rays announced today that Major League Baseball will take over production and distribution of local television broadcasts beginning with the 2026 season. The partnership ensures that fans across Florida will be able to watch Rays games through their cable or satellite provider and through MLB’s direct‑to‑consumer streaming service. “Since our first days […]

7 days ago | 0 reads

2026 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 13

Previous Winner 12. Xavier Isaac, 1B22 | L/L | 6’3” | 240AA | .201/.366/.446 (144 wRC+) 175 PA, 9 HR, 1 SB, 19.4% BB, 29.7% K Isaac had his season cut short large-in-part due to the discovery of a brain tumor, disrupting an otherwise great start to the season that duplicated his cup of coffee […]

7 days ago | 1 read

Which loss, trade, or season still bothers you the most?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, we are posting “Daily Questions” in the month of February. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! What moment in this franchise history haunts you, keeps you up at night, barges into your […]

7 days ago | 0 reads

What’s the strongest reason to believe this season won’t be a waste?

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. It’s what differentiates the SB Nation sites from others. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, all MLB sites will have an initiative for “Daily Questions,” starting today. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! Let’s start off Daily Questions […]

9 days ago | 3 reads

Daily Question: February 1, 2026

DRaysBay works best as a place for community and conversation. It’s what differentiates the SB Nation sites from others. Accordingly, in the lead up to the new season, all MLB sites will have an initiative for “Daily Questions,” starting today. I look forward to seeing you in the comment section! What’s the strongest reason to […]

9 days ago | 0 reads

2026 DRaysBay Community Prospect List: Vote for No. 12

Previous Winner Anderson Brito, RHP21 | 5’10” | 155A+ (HOU) | 3.28 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 49.1 IP (12 GS), 31.1% K, 13.4% BBAFL | 11.1 IP, 6 H, 7 BB, 22 K Acquired in the Brandon Lowe trade, Brito has three plus pitches with a fastball that touches 100 with cut-ride, and two breakers in […]

MLB

10 days ago | 2 reads