MLB · AL East · Est. 1998 · Tropicana Field
Updated March 16, 2026
The Rays lost 85 games in 2025, but their plus-31 run differential tells a different story. Advanced metrics say Tampa Bay played like an 86-win team at a fundamental level, and with some positive regression, the Rays could quietly contend again in 2026.
Tampa Bay traded Shane Baz to the Orioles for a prospect package and sent Brandon Lowe to the Pirates in a three-team deal, continuing the franchise's relentless cycle of selling high on controllable talent. The Rays' ability to reload from these trades will determine their next window.
Despite losing Baz and Lowe, the Rays' player-development machine keeps humming. Tampa Bay's track record of turning overlooked prospects into productive big leaguers is unmatched, and betting against this organization's ability to compete on a shoestring budget remains a fool's errand.