The Winter Meetings are over as teams have made their long treks back home, or in the Rays case, a brief drive down I-4 back to Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n
It was a busy few days for the Rays, even if they only added one player to their projected Opening Day roster.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s break down what happened:<\/p>\n
Rays sign LHP Steven Matz<\/p>\n
On Monday, the Rays were one of the few teams at the Winter Meetings to actually do something as they signed veteran southpaw Steven Matz to a two year deal.<\/p>\n
It hasn\u2019t been reported yet as to how the Rays plan to use the 34-year old lefty, but his former manager Alex Cora told reporters during his media session that Matz wanted to return to the starting rotation in 2026.<\/p>\n
We also know the Rays were\/are in search of a veteran pitcher capable of providing plenty of innings and it\u2019s possible they may look to Matz as the answer should any current rotation arms get traded or another veteran isn\u2019t signed or acquired.<\/p>\n
INF Logan Davidson signs MiLB Deal<\/p>\n
It was reported the Rays have signed 27-year old infielder Logan Davidson to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.<\/p>\n
The 2019 first round pick (29th overall) out of Clemson was once a top prospect in the Athletics system; however, despite possessing plus power potential from both side of the plate, Davidson never developed into a fearsome power hitter.<\/p>\n
He is a solid defender all over the infield and was able to make his big league debut in 2025 with the Angels.<\/p>\n
Astros, Rays discussed Shane Baz trade<\/p>\n
According to Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic<\/a>, the Houston Astros are interested in obtaining Shane Baz, but also reported that a the Rays moving Baz was unlikely. Still the two sides have discussed a framework of a possible deal that would send Baz to Houston.<\/p>\n The Astros\u2019 priority this offseason is adding starting pitching as stated by General Manager Dana Brown on Monday so their interest in Baz, and other Rays starters makes plenty of sense.<\/p>\n For their part, the Rays are reportedly \u2018intrigued\u2019 by Anderson Brito, one of Houston\u2019s top pitching prospects. Brito, 21, reached High-A in 2025 and finished the year with a 3.28 ERA | 2.91 FIP, 31.1 K% & 13.4 BB% over 49.1 IP, and then got an additional showcase in front of the scouts at the Arizona Fall League.<\/p>\n Reds, Pirates both interested in Brandon Lowe<\/p>\n The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds both pursued Kyle Schwarber before he signed a record breaking contract for a designated hitter with the Philadelphia Phillies. Since then, both teams have turned their attention to Brandon Lowe (among others).<\/p>\n The 31-year old Lowe is entering his final season of an eight-year deal he signed in 2019 and is coming off a 31 HR season in which he hit .256\/.307\/.477 over 553 plate appearances; however, despite the power surge, Lowe produced the lowest fWAR over his career over a full season mostly due to being one of the worst defensive second baseman in all of baseball.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, Lowe is a prolific slugger when healthy and would add some serious thump, providing an impact in the middle of the order at a reasonable cost.<\/p>\n Rays awarded #2 pick in 2026 draft<\/p>\n The Rays finished the year with the 10th worst record in the game and had the 7th best of being awarded the #1 pick in the draft. Fortune smiled upon the Rays, perhaps due to having Brett Phillips represent them, and they landed the 2nd overall selection in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n Baseball America has already published a mock draft<\/a>, tabbing the Rays to take Grady Emerson, a high school shortstop (what a shock) out of Texas.<\/p>\n Rays lose Alberto in Rule 5 Draft<\/p>\n The Rays nearly made it though the Rule 5 draft unscathed, but the Chicago White Sox decided to take 24-year old Alexander Alberto as a rare 2nd round selection. Alberto was originally signed in 2019 and has moved through the Rays system at a snail\u2019s pace despite possessing an elite arsenal. The White Sox must keep Alberto on the active roster all season which may be a tall order for Alberto considering he only has 35 IP in High-A.<\/p>\n In the minor league phase, the Rays selected RHP Alvaro Mejias from the Red Sox; the 22-year old has battled injuries the past several years. Mejias recorded two outs during a lone Complex League outing in 2023 and hasn\u2019t logged an appearance since.<\/p>\n The Rays would lose RHP Antonio Menendez to the Diamondbacks and C Raudelis Martinez over the next several rounds.<\/p>\n Rays, DBacks discussing Marte trade<\/p>\n