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Rays' Junior Caminero: Pops homer in live BP
Caminero slugged a home run Tuesday during a live batting practice session against Rays right-hander Shane Baz, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Caminero is continuing to put his power on full display in the early stages of spring training following a spectacular showing in the Dominican Winter League. While playing for Leones del Escogido, Caminero batted .417 with four home runs and 28 RBI across 22 regular-season and postseason games, and the 21-year-old provided perhaps the highlight of the DWL season with a tie-breaking 454-foot solo shot in the top of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the championship series to lead his team to a title. The impressive performance over the winter came after Caminero had a solid, yet somewhat underwhelming run at the MLB level upon receiving a call-up to the Rays last August, slashing .248/.299/.424 with six home runs and two stolen bases over his 177 plate appearances. Now preparing for his first full season in the majors, Caminero should be feeling less pressure to compete for a roster spot this spring, as the Rays have seemingly cleared the way for him to be their everyday third baseman. Though his immense power will likely play well in any ballpark, Caminero's home-run projection should get at least a slight boost while the Rays leave the domed Tropicana Field to play their 2025 home games outdoors in Tampa at Steinbrenner Field, which mimics Yankee Stadium's more hitter-friendly dimensions.
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Rays' Eloy Jimenez: Sheds 25-to-30 pounds
Jimenez lost 25-to-30 pounds over the offseason, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Jimenez had to settle for a minor-league contract with the Rays this offseason following a 2024 campaign that he referred to Sunday as a "disaster." Manager Kevin Cash said that Jimenez is "really, really motivated" and will get some reps in the outfield and even at first base in addition to competing for at-bats at designated hitter.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Named Opening Day starter
McClanahan will start Opening Day, March 28 against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2023 -- already the second such operation of his career. Despite his extended hiatus, the Rays will entrust him with starting the first game of the season, as he owns a 3.02 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over his three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old southpaw said Wednesday that he won't have any sort of restrictions during spring training, though the Rays are still expected to put a ceiling on his workload -- likely around 150 innings -- during the regular season.
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Rays' Nate Lavender: Heads to 60-day IL
The Rays placed Lavender (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Mason Englert, who was acquired via trade. Lavender was a Rule 5 pick this offseason and is likely to be out until around midseason while recovering from an internal brace procedure, which he underwent last spring.
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Rays' Mason Englert: Sent to Tampa Bay
The Rays acquired Englert from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for left-hander Drew Sommers.
Englert will get a spot on the Rays' 40-man roster, with Tampa Bay placing Nate Lavender (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding transaction. The 25-year-old right-hander spent the majority of the 2024 season with Triple-A Toledo but made 12 appearances (one start) for Detroit, logging a 5.40 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB In 21.2 innings. Englert will likely be ticketed for a low-leverage role out of the bullpen if he secures a spot on the Rays' Opening Day roster.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: No limitations in spring
McClanahan (elbow) confirmed Wednesday prior to throwing his first bullpen session of the spring that he's 100 percent and will face no restrictions in spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
The Rays are still expected to cap McClanahan at around 150 innings in 2025 after he missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from August 2023 Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be entering the spring on a normal throwing progression that mirrors Tampa Bay's other healthy rotation candidates. According to Bass, McClanahan's fastball sat at around 94-to-95 mph during Wednesday's throwing session, just a tick or two behind his average velocity from the 2023 season. McClanahan made his second consecutive All-Star appearance that season and turned in a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121:41 K:BB over 115 innings before requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career.
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Rays' Ha-Seong Kim: Targeting late-May return
The Rays are targeting late May for the season debut of Kim (shoulder), Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kim had said earlier this offseason that he hoped to be ready to play by mid-April following labrum repair surgery on his right shoulder in October. However, he'll be brought along more slowly than that, effectively missing the first two months of the season. The Rays will use Taylor Walls and Jose Caballero at shortstop until Kim is ready.
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Rays' Eloy Jimenez: Contending for bench role
Jimenez will enter spring training in a competition with Curtis Mead for the final bench spot on the Rays' roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Jimenez joined the Rays on a minor-league deal in late December and will earn $2 million if he makes the Opening Day roster. He struggled to get going during the 2024 season, but he had at least a .169 ISO in all of his prior campaigns. While Mead would offer Tampa Bay more defensive versatility, Jimenez has a chance to be the more impactful bat.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Battling for bench spot
Mead will enter spring training battling with Eloy Jimenez for one of Tampa Bay's final bench spots, Marc Topkin of the Tamp Bay Times reports.
Mead was once a highly regarded prospect in the Rays' system, but he has managed just a 78 wRC+ across 224 big-league plate appearances. Though he's capable of playing both second and third base, the team boasts considerable depth at each position and could instead opt to keep the potential power bat of Jimenez on the roster.
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Rays' Connor Seabold: Signs with Tampa Bay as NRI
The Rays signed Seabold to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Seabold, 29, pitched for the Samsung Lions in Korea last season, posting a 3.43 ERA and 158:40 K:BB across 160 innings. He's managed just an 8.12 ERA over parts of three big-league seasons and is likely to open 2025 as part of the rotation at Triple-A Durham.
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Rays' Tres Barrera: Receives NRI from Tampa Bay
The Rays signed Barrera to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Barrera, 30, has slashed .228/.313/.310 over parts of four seasons at the big-league level. He will give the Rays another catcher for their pitchers to throw to in camp but is pegged for Triple-A Durham to begin the season.
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Rays' Jonny DeLuca: Likely to get first shot in CF
DeLuca is projected to begin the 2025 season as the Rays' center fielder, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
The Rays traded Jose Siri to the Mets during the offseason, creating an opening in center field. DeLuca is expected to fill that void thanks primarily to his defensive ability, though he'll likely need to perform better at the plate to maintain regular at-bats throughout the campaign. He posted just a 77 wRC+ across 362 big-league plate appearances in 2024, and Richie Palacios can also handle center field duties.
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Rays' Christopher Morel: Projected to start in left field
Morel is projected to begin the 2025 season as the Rays' starting left fielder, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Morel was dealt to the Rays in late July and subsequently started 31 games. Only 11 of those came in left field as compared to 20 at third base. However, with Junior Caminero all but certain to be a mainstay at the hot corner, Morel will be forced to a new defensive home. He could also face some pressure for playing time from Richie Palacios or even Eloy Jimenez if he cannot improve upon the .547 OPS that he posted across 190 plate appearances with the team in 2024.
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Rays' Brandon Eisert: Designated for assignment
The Rays designated Eisert for assignment Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the signing of Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder). Eisert was just acquired from the Blue Jays in late January for cash considerations but will now be exposed to waivers.
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Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Regular role expected
Aranda is expected to see regular at-bats as the Rays' designated hitter while also serving as the backup to Yandy Diaz at first base to begin the 2025 season, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Aranda was expected to contribute to the Rays in 2024, though he lost roughly three months of the season due to finger and oblique injuries. However, he finally managed regular run with the big-league club in September when he hit .253 with five homers, 13 runs scored and 10 RBI across 85 plate appearances. Aranda then supplemented that playing time with 115 plate appearances in the Mexican Winter League, during which he maintained a 1.047 OPS. Barring more bad luck with injuries, he should have the chance to build off of that momentum to begin the 2025 season with regular at-bats against right-handed pitching.
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Rays' Osleivis Basabe: Booted from 40-man roster
The Rays designated Basabe for assignment Monday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the newly-acquired Alex Faedo. Basabe, 24, missed a large chunk of the 2024 season with a fractured wrist, slashing just .248/.293/.336 over 66 contests during his time at Triple-A Durham. He has minor-league options left and could draw interest from a team looking for utility depth.
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Rays' Alex Faedo: Traded to Tampa Bay
The Rays acquired Faedo from the Tigers on Monday in exchange for Enderson Delgado and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Faedo had been removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster and will now join a new organization. The right-hander is out of minor-league options, so the Rays will need to carry him on their Opening Day roster or put him through the waivers process. Faedo has a career 5.00 ERA over 30 starts and 3.44 ERA over 34 relief appearances at the big-league level.
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Rays' Xavier Isaac: Garners spring invite
The Rays have extended Isaac an invitation to big-league camp during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Isaac slashed .264/.370/.480 with 18 home runs and 15 stolen bases over 102 games between High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery in 2024. The 21-year-old isn't a realistic candidate to make the Rays' Opening Day roster, but they hope he'll be a staple in their lineup eventually. Fellow top prospects Carson Williams and Tre' Morgan are among the Rays' other spring training invitees.
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Team Statistical Rankings
| Avg | R | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
.230 (27th) |
604 (29th) |
147 (28th) |
3.77 (9th) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| H. Kim 2B Ha-seong Kim 2B | Shoulder |
| N. Lavender RP Nathan Lavender RP | Elbow |
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