It has been a hectic winter for the Tampa Bay Rays, and with a few months to go before spring training, there is still more work to do. One of the most pressing needs will be to replace production from recently traded players. 

With a desire to compete in 2026, it was a bit surprising to see the Rays elect to trade both Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz. When looking at the returns that they were able to receive, it made a lot more sense with the combination of the two bringing back a haul of prospects. However, it did significantly weaken the team as of now, especially with the loss of Lowe. 

The All-Star slugger was one of the best players at his position in the league, and his 31 home runs are not going to be easily replaced. While there are some needs still in other areas, second base has to be a priority now as well. On the trade market, there are rumored to be some talented options available, but attacking in free agency seems like a more likely plan. 

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently wrote about Luis Rengifo as a logical target for the Rays in free agency. 

Can Rengifo Bounce Back?