What Moves Could Be Next In Rays Offseason?
After trading Baz and Lowe, Tampa Bay could still have plenty of decisions to make with roster
Baseball’s Winter Meetings were certainly a busy time for Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander, as he surely met with a number of clubs about players on his roster as well as potential new members of the team. Those conversations obviously led to the signing of outfielder Cedric Mullins and left-hander Steven Matz, but also to deals that sent right-hander Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles and second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum, and left-handed reliever Mason Montgomery to the Pitttsburgh Pirates.
So as Christmas approaches, what else could the Rays be brewing up in anticipation for 2026?
Is A Deal For Ketel Marte Still Feasible?
For the last month, plenty of rumors have swirled around the team regarding Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, with plenty of pundits saying that Tampa Bay would be a natural fit if they could unload Lowe, who was going into his final year of team control after having his final option year picked up. However, most of those potential deals head the Rays sending a significant starting rotation piece (either Baz or Ryan Pepiot, or even both as the video above mentions). But with the Rays picking up four prospects and a first-round pick for Baz, dealing Pepiot (who still has three years of team control) and the heavy amount of prospects Arizona would likely demand could be a hurdle too high.
In addition, moving Pepiot leaves Tampa Bay with a rotation of Shane McClanahan (who hasn’t pitched in two years due to elbow issues), Drew Rasmussen (who also has had two and a half Tommy John surgeries), Matz, Joe Boyle (who has all the potential but has struggled at the big league level), and Ian Seymour.
Could A Back-End Rotation Arm Be The Move?
As my old friend (and Rays Radio broadcaster) Dave Wills used to say, “Just when you think you have enough pitching, go out and get some more pitching.” And while most of the top names would be out of reach for the Rays there are a couple of familiar names that I could see Neander and company targeting.
After signing him to a three-year contract prior to the 2023 season (and trading him to Baltimore midway through 2024), right-hander Zach Eflin is back on the market. 2025 was certainly a letdown from his standard of pitching, going just 6-5 with an ERA of close to 6.00 while dealing with lower back issues that ultimately required surgery. But no one is more aware of what the right-hander is able to do when healthy than the Rays, and a reunion could be very cost-effective.
A little higher on the pay scale could be a reunion with right-hander Zack Littell. After being claimed off waivers by the Rays from the Red Sox, Littell turned into one of the most reliable arms on the staff, first out of the bullpen, then stretched into a starter. His work the last two season has certainly earned him the opportunity to test the market to the best of his ability, but I could definitely see the front office in Tampa Bay pursue him and hopfully if not land him, then certainly help him receive a deal commeasurate with his skills.
A pitcher that could be off the radar for many is right-hander German Marquez. And I can hear you screaming now: “WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT A PITCHER WHO WAS SO BAD LAST YEAR!!”
To put it briefly: yes Marquez stunk out loud in 2025. He was 3-16. His ERA was close to 7.00 (6.70). He allowed 23 homers in just 123 innings of work. But I will counter with four words that should explain most, if not all, of that.
It…Was…The…Rockies.
Colorado was one of the historically worst teams in sport history in 2025. A team that lost 119 games, fired manager Bud Black just over a month into the season and continued to languish.
But the Rays are intimately familiar with Marquez. They signed him as a 16-year-old in 2011 and brought him to the states two years later. Tampa Bay added him to the 40-man roster after the 2015 season, despite him only being in High-A. He was traded to the Rockies before the 2016 season for outfielder Corey Dickerson (who coincedentally was named the new Rays first base coach today), and eventually made his major league debut for Colorado that year.
Marquez is Colorado’s all-time strikeout leader, with 1,069, and in the top three in franchise history in games started (200), wins (68), and innings pitched (1,146.1), and he’ll turn just 31 in February. I could see Marquez taking a one-year, prove it deal from Tampa Bay.
An Unfamiliar Ray’s Birthday
Happy 51st birthday to former Tampa Bay Devil Ray reliever Trevor Enders. If you’re unfamilar with him, you probably aren’t alone.
Enders appeared in just nine games out of the bullpen with the then-Devil Rays back in September of 2000, going 0-1 with a 10.61 ERA, giving up 13 runs (11 earned) on 14 hits in just 9.1 innings.
The lefty was undrafted out of Houston Christian University, signing with Tampa Bay in 1996. In 1998 with High-A St. Petersburg, he went 10-1 with a 2.23 ERA, and the following season with Double-A Orlando, compiled a 8-2 mark with a 3.30 ERA. He made his major league debut September 2, 2000 at Tropicana Field against Kansas City, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits while getting just one out. However, he would return to the mound the next day and pitch a scoreless ninth inning against the Royals.
Enders spent 2001 between Double-A Orlando and Triple-A Durham, then pitched in the Atlantic League in 2002.
After his baseball career, Enders returned to Texas, teaching US History and coaching baseball at his high school alma mater, James E. Taylor High School in Katy, for 11 years. He’s now a regional director at Instructure, an educational software firm.