Rays Keep $20 Million Starter as They Chase First Title

Tampa Bay Rays fans return to Tropicana Field for the 2027 season with a roster that kept most of its key players. The organization exercised a $20 million option for starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen on November 3. This move anchors the pitching staff for the team that finished with the American League's best record.

The 2026 campaign saw the Rays win 98 games. They returned to their home stadium after completing repairs from Hurricane Milton. The team secured the AL pennant but lost three games in the World Series. It was the closest the franchise has come to a championship in its history.

Erik Neander, the president of baseball operations, stated that the goal is now within reach. He noted that preseason projections had Tampa Bay finishing fifth in the AL East. Neander compared the current roster to the Milwaukee Brewers team that won the title earlier in the year. "I think we just went up against a team, to me it's achievable for us," Neander said.

The front office faces a familiar challenge: balancing payroll while retaining talent. The Rays have a history of trading high-profile players to manage costs. Neander acknowledged these financial pressures but argued that the current position player group is not as expensive as in previous years. He believes this structure allows the team to maintain a competitive roster while keeping Rasmussen.

"There are forces when you start to get into that territory," Neander said. "Does that take too much of your payroll that makes it difficult to have a contending team? I think we're in a position where we can make it work, have another run at this, because our position player group isn't that expensive as some years."

The team enters a busy awards week starting Monday. Junior Caminero is a finalist for the MVP award. Manager Kevin Cash is nominated for Manager of the Year. Reliever Bryan Baker is a finalist for Relief Pitcher of the Year. Shortstop Taylor Walls also received his first Gold Glove award.

The Rays will begin the offseason process with the intention of maximizing productivity. They aim to retain the core group that captured the division. The organization confirmed that Rasmussen remains a central part of their plans for the upcoming season.