1 underrated signing for the Rays this offseason

The Rays have had a relatively active offseason as the roster has seen a multitude of changes. Although they haven't been at the level of their division rival Orioles and Blue Jays, Tampa Bay has added pieces that will make a major impact on the 2026 club. Veteran center fielder Cedric Mullins and talented second baseman Gavin Lux were some of the key additions. However, there was one signing that may have snuck under the radar for most fans and would be worth taking another glance at.

Rays sign outfielder Jake Fraley to a one-year, $3 million deal

The 30-year-old Jake Fraley has had a pretty inconsistent career thus far, compiling a 2.6 WAR over seven big league seasons. In 2025, Fraley appeared in 76 contests, hitting .241 with only 23 RBIs. So, why did the Rays add the left-handed hitter to their outfield mix? He's making a return to a Rays organization that drafted him in the second round of the 2016 draft. The LSU alumni was very successful in the Tampa Bay system as he finished his Rays tenure with a .347 AVG in 66 games with the Charlotte Stone Crabs. The Rays would trade Fraley to Seattle for All Star catcher and Florida native, Mike Zunino.

This wound up being a wise deal in the long run especially as we see the lefty return to his original organization. As Rays fans adjust to this new-look squad, they should become more and more aware of the potential of Jake Fraley. The up-and-down nature of his career is evident, but his best seasons in Cincinnati can't be overlooked. In 2022 and 2023, Fraley played a combined 179 games, hitting around .257 with 27 total homers. The home runs took a plunge the next season with the Reds, but the 5'11 outfielder posted a career-high .277 average. It's easy to see that Fraley's seven-year career has been an underrated endeavor as the 2.6 WAR doesn't match his respectable .248 career average.

Now, as the Rays rebuild their outfield, there's a clear path to playing time for Fraley and this is likely intentional. His primary position of right field was primarily manned by the 6'4 Josh Lowe since 2022. However, Tampa Bay sent Lowe to the Angels in a 3-team trade that saw them acquire newest second baseman Gavin Lux. Therefore, Fraley may be atop the depth chart at his position alongside Jonny DeLuca and former Reds utility man Ryan Vilade. It will certainly be interesting to see how he competes for this wide-open lane throughout spring training.