The Tampa Bay Rays have built the American League’s best record thanks in very large part to contributions from several players who joined the organization since the end of the 2025 season. Nine such players, including three who came on board since the start of this season, were with the club for Wednesday’s series finale in Baltimore.
Here is a look at some of the players acquired by the Rays since the end of last season and how they have fared through the aforementioned series at Camden Yards, which resulted in Kevin Cash’s team being swept for the first time in 2026.
Jake Fraley | Free Agent
The 31-year-old Fraley, who is four games shy of 500 in his career, was signed as a free agent in November. He spent the bulk of last season with the Reds before being claimed off waivers in August by the Braves, for whom he played only nine games due to injury. Speaking of injury, the lefty hitting Fraley was platooning in right field before landing on the injured list (hernia) in mid-May. He was hitting .232 in 28 games when shelved.
Nick Martinez | Free Agent
The Rays’ highest-paid player turns 36 in August, spent four years in Japan (2018-21) and entered this season 34-47 with a 4.59 ERA as a starting pitcher. It did not seem like a resume to rouse the fan base. Yet, all Martinez has done is post impressive credentials (4-1, 1.51 ERA, 1.11 WHIP) through his first 10 starts in a Tampa Bay uniform, including an ERA that is second in MLB. The righthander is on his way to passing his career high in innings pitched, which is 165 2/3 with the Reds last season. He needs to record one more out to reach the 1,000-inning milestone for his career. Martinez’s $13-million, one-year deal includes a $4 million buyout on a mutual option for next season.
Steven Matz | Free Agent
Fortunately, Matz’s recent stint on the IL (left elbow inflammation) was brief. The southpaw was very consistent through eight starts (4-1, 3.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP) before having his worst outing (3 IP, 6 ER) of the season Wednesday night in Baltimore. Matz, who turns 35 Friday, agreed to a two-year, $15-million pact during the winter meetings in December after making 51 relief appearances (plus two starts) with the Red Sox and Cardinals last season. He was last a fulltime starter with the Blue Jays in 2021.
Victor Mesa, Jr. | Trade
The 24-year-old Mesa was called up from Triple-A Durham during the holiday weekend when outfielder Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) was placed on the injured list. With DeLuca and Fraley sidelined, Mesa has an opportunity to contribute and perhaps stay a while. He had an impact in his Tampa Bay debut Memorial Day when he blasted a two-run homer over the rightfield wall to give the Rays a 4-2 lead in the tenth inning of a 9-7 loss in 13 innings. Mesa was acquired from the Marlins prior to spring training for a teenage infield prospect. He made his MLB debut with Miami last season and played 16 games.
Cedric Mullins | Free Agent
Another 30-something signing by the Rays was that of the 31-year-old center fielder, who has struggled at the plate. Mullins went 0-for-5 opening day in St. Louis and has yet to get his average as high as .200, though he has hit .279 in his first 20 games this month. Mullins’ value in center and in the clubhouse has been everything the Rays expected of the player who spent all or part of his first eight seasons in Baltimore, where he received a warm reception Memorial Day. His five bunt singles lead a team that has thrived with a small ball style of play this season.
Ryan Vilade | Trade
A cash deal with Cincinnati to acquire Vilade two days after the World Series concluded defined “under the radar.” After all, he appeared in only 28 games with four teams over the course of three seasons. Alas, Vilade has impressed as a member of the Rays. The 27-year-old has played an exceptional right field, has started at first base for the first time in his career and has played a couple of innings at second base, which he had not done previously at the big-league level. At the plate, the sample size is small, but his impact has been large in hitting .304 with a .383 OBP in 82 plate appearances through Wednesday.
Ben Williamson | Trade
Williamson was acquired from Seattle in a three-way deal before the curtain rose on spring training. The deal, which included Brendan Donovan going from St. Louis to the Mariners, cost the Rays a minor league outfielder and a competitive balance pick. The 25-year-old Williamson, who started 79 games at third base as a rookie last season prior to the M’s dealing for Eugenio Suarez, is the type of infielder the Rays have long valued from the standpoint he can play multiple positions. With Junior Caminero entrenched at third, Williamson started 22 games at second and six at short prior to landing on the IL (back strain) on May 19. (Another off-season acquisition, infielder Oliver Dunn, had his contract selected from Durham when Williamson was sidelined.)
Bullpen additions include Craig Kimbrel
The Rays are always tinkering with the bullpen and this season has been no exception. Righthanded reliever Casey Legumina was acquired from the Mariners on April 24 in exchange for a minor league pitcher. The 28-year-old, who debuted with the Reds in 2023, has picked up a win while allowing two earned runs in eight appearances (10 IP) with Tampa Bay.
A more familiar name was signed Memorial Day, three days before his 38th birthday. The Rays are veteran righthander Craig Kimbrel’s ninth MLB team and tenth organization this decade. (The Rangers signed Kimbrel to a minor league deal in June 2025 and he did not appear with the parent club.) He made 14 appearances with the Mets this season before being cut loose, and the Rays pounced. Kimbrel debuted with Tampa Bay on Tuesday evening and threw a scoreless inning. His 440 career saves are second to Kenley Jansen (483) among active players and fifth all-time. Kimbrel’s most recent save was July 7, 2024 with Baltimore and his next save opportunity – he has not had one since that 2024 season — will be his 500th.
Jonathan Heasley, who was signed April 11, was called up from Durham and mopped up in Wednesday’s series finale in Baltimore. Hence, a player made his Tampa Bay debut in each of the three games against the Orioles: Mesa on Monday, Kimbrel on Tuesday and Heasley on Wednesday.
Gavin Lux remains idle
The 28-year-old Lux was expected to be the Rays’ second baseman after he was acquired as part of a three-team trade in January that sent Josh Lowe to the Angels. Lux, who was primarily a left fielder and DH in his lone season with the Reds last year while playing a career high 140 games and posting a .724 OPS, has been shelved since the end of an injury-plagued spring training with a right shoulder impingement. His left shoulder flared up during a rehab assignment at Durham earlier this month resulting in a setback with no timetable for taking the field again.
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