Rays are major wild cards in MLB offseason![\"Erik](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01ka4w6tr9f11791wq4k.jpg\" "\\"Erik")
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Kim Klement-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil we have a better idea how things are going to run under Patrick Zalupski’s group, the Rays have to be regarded as one of the biggest wild cards this winter,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
Early indications are that nothing will be changing. Closer Pete Fairbanks had an $11 million team option that Tampa Bay opted to decline, instead paying a buyout priced at $1 million.<\/p>\n
There was just no way the Rays were going to pay Fairbanks that amount of money. Evidently, they weren\u2019t alone in that line of thinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A big reason they weren\u2019t able to trade him previously<\/a> was not finding the kind of value they thought he was worth. It played a role in Tampa Bay declining the option. When canvassing the league, other teams didn\u2019t show a willingness to pay $11 million, and based on early contract projections, they were right.<\/p>\n However, they did exercise the $11.5 million option they had on second baseman Brandon Lowe. That shows they are willing to pay a little bit of money to retain talent when they feel the value is appropriate.<\/p>\n Rays have positions of need worth spending money on Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n What makes the Rays such wild cards is that no one knows how they are going to operate now that there is more money to spend. There were whispers of them being in on Kyle Tucker, but cold water has been thrown on that.<\/p>\n Outfield remains a need; will they go shopping in a lower tier and come away with someone such as Trent Grisham<\/a>? Or could they make a trade and add salary in that way?<\/p>\n![\"Yandy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01ka4w9846h0t6dbg0a3.jpg\" "\\"Yandy")
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