The Tampa Bay Rays have entered the new year with some needs to address following what has been a busy winter so far.
It has been a busy offseason for the Rays, who came into the winter seeking to make some improvements. Following a disappointing end to the 2025 campaign, Tampa Bay was aggressive in free agency and addressed a number of needs. However, more have arisen for the team following a couple of trades.
The decisions to trade both Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz could end up being very beneficial long-term, but they will undoubtedly hurt the team for 2026. Both of these players were expected to be essential parts of the roster but will now be playing elsewhere.
While replacing Baz’s production might be a bit easier in the rotation, replacing Lowe is going to be a challenge. The talented All-Star was one of the best players at his position in the league, and he was fantastic for the team in 2025. While there are going to be some external options for the team to pursue, they could look to replace him internally as well.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently predicted that the talented defensive infielder Taylor Walls would be switching positions and be the starting second baseman for the team on Opening Day.
Walls Fills in for Lowe