I found it very interesting to do a deep dive into how the Brewers have built out a roster on a moderate budget, so I thought I’d do the same things with the Rays. Although, not quite as in depth. I’ll start with the position players today.
bWAR for the franchise is in parentheses.
Position Players
Catcher
Liam Hicks (0.7)
Contract: $232k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Traded from the Marlins on 8/3/2026 for Jacob Kising, Adrian Santana and Brayden Taylor
Notes: All three players are in the Marlins Top 30 prospects, but getting a good young-ish (27-year-old) catcher under long-term control was not going to be cheap. Hicks was drafted by Texas in 2021, traded to the Tigers for Carson Kelly in 2024, and was a Rule 5 pick in 2024.
Nick Fortes (1.1)
Contract: $2.53M in 2026, Arbitration in 2027-28, Free agent in 2029.
Acquired: Traded from the Marlins on 7/29/25 for Matthew Etzel
Notes: Both of the Rays catchers have come up from Miami at the trade deadline the past 2 years.
First Base
Yandy Diaz (19.9)
Contract: $12M in 2026, $13M in 2027, Free agent in 2028.
Acquired: Huge, 3-team trade on 12/13/2018. Cole Sulser and Diaz from the Indians to the Rays, Edwin Encarnacion and a draft pick from the Indians to the Mariners, Carlos Santana from the Mariners to the Indians and Jake Bauers from the Rays to the Indians. Plus some cash from the Rays to Seattle.
Notes: Very interesting that Diaz and Bauers were involved in the same trade. Diaz did not his his arbitration years until he was 30, and signed a 3-year extension in 2025.
Jonathan Aranda (6.4)
Contract: $796K in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Signed as international free agent in 2015 for $130k when he was 17.
Notes: Spent 7 years in the minors, but the Rays were able to keep him around, and he in now paying dividends.
Second Base
Richie Palacios (3.6)
Contract: 945k in 2026, Arbitration in 2027-29, Free Agent in 2030
Acquired: Traded from the Cardinals on 1/5/2024 for Andrew Kittredge
Notes: Was draft by Cleveland, sold to the Cardinals and then came to Tampa as a free agent.
Ben Williamson (0.8)
Contract: $786k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Part of 3-team deal – Mariners sent Williamson to the Rays and Jurrangelo Cjinte, Taj Peete and a draft pick to the Cardinals, Rays sent Colton Ledbetter and a draft pick to the Cardinals, the Cardinals sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners.
Notes: Donovan was the big name in the trade, but struggled with injuries this season. Cijntje and Peete are top-30 in the Cardinals system.
Shortstop
Taylor Walls (13.4)
Contract: $786k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft (#79 overall)
Notes: Walls was signed a bit under lot in the 3rd round.
Jorge Mateo (-1.0)
Contract: 192k in 2026, Free agent in 2027.
Acquired: Free agent
Notes: He was once traded for Sonny Gray, but bounced around since then. Hs peak season was 2022 with Baltimore, when he played in 150 games at 3rd, and stole 35 bases.
Third Base
Junior Caminero (10.8)
Contract: $795k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Traded from Cleveland on 11/19/2021 for Tobias Myers.
Notes: One of the more lop-sided trades you will see. Myers was sold to the Giants in 2022, picked up by the White Sox on Waivers and then released before catching on with the Brewers, where he played two seasons. He was then traded with Freddy Peralta to the Mets for Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. And now, Peralta is with the Rays.
Outfield
Chandler Simpson (2.8)
Contract: $785k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft (#70 overall).
Notes: That was a good 2nd round, with Parker Messick at #54, Jacob Misiaorowski at #63 and Roman Anthony at #79 (plus Nolan McLean in the 3rd round at #81).
Cedric Mullins (1.0)
Contract: $7M in 2026, $10M in 2027 (mutual option), free agent in 2028.
Acquired: as Free Agent
Notes: The 4th highest paid player on the Rays in 2026, just below Steven Matz
Victor Mesa Jr. (2.9)
Contract: $570k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: traded from Miami on 2/6/2026 for Angel Brachi
Notes: Expectations were low for Mesa Jr., but he has proven to be a huge surprise. Prior to 2026, his claims to fame were the success of his father in the majors, and the fact that his brother, Victor Victor Mesa signed the biggest international free agent deal in 2018, for $5.25 million, while Victor Jr only got $1 million.
Jonny DeLuca (2.9)
Contract: $789k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: traded with with Ryan Pepiot from the Dodgers for Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot and cash on 12/16/2023.
Notes: Pepiot was the prize in this trade, and he started 57 games over 2024 and 25, but a right-hip injury put him out for the entire season. Glasnow signed an extension with the Dodgers right after the trade.
Ryan Vilade (0.8)
Contract: $950k in 2026, pre-arbitration
Acquired: Purchased from the Reds
Notes: A journeyman, utility player if ever there was one.
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