With the offseason well underway for the Tampa Bay Rays already, the team will be seeking to make some improvements this winter to get back into contention in 2026. 

The second half of the 2025 campaign didn’t go well for the team, and they will be focused on staying healthy and putting together a full year of good baseball. Fortunately, there is reason to believe that the Rays can be a strong team this coming season. 

There is a lot of young talent in place for the franchise, both in the lineup and the pitching staff. Furthermore, there are also some good veteran pieces that have been performing well. Recently, the team made a surprise move to let closer Pete Fairbanks head to free agency after declining his option. 

That move raised a lot of eyebrows, with the right-hander being seen as a prime trade candidate this offseason. However, Tampa Bay must not have thought that they would have been able to deal him in a timely manner, and instead, he is now a free agent. Due to this move, the question has been raised of whether or not some other veterans could be on the move. 

Mike Axisa of CBS Sports recently wrote about Rays slugger Brandon Lowe being a good fit for the Kansas City Royals this winter in a trade. 

Trading Lowe Would Be a Significant Blow