With the start of the new year almost here for the Tampa Bay Rays, the franchise will be starting to plan out what 2026 is going to look like.
So far this winter, the Rays have been very busy in both free agency and on the trade market. This should come as no surprise, with the team generally being active. So far, the plan has been to add to help for the short-term, but also to be thinking about the future.
This offseason is far from a finished product for Tampa Bay with multiple needs still to address. However, the moves they have made so far have been good ones. While the trading of Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz might have stung a bit, the returns for them in both deals were fantastic on paper.
Now, the franchise is starting to once again stockpile some young talent, and it will be exciting to see how they develop. The farm system is absolutely loaded for them, and they have some young talent that will also be seeking to break out.
Adam Berry of MLB recently wrote about outfielder Chandler Simpson being a player who could have a breakout season for the Rays in 2026.
Competition Will be Stiff