Rays end up avoiding arbitration with defense-first shortstop, agree to one-year deal

Despite all of the drama that ensued at the arbitration deadline, Rays fans should've foreseen this deal playing out. It has become common knowledge that Taylor Walls would become the everyday shortstop after the Wander Franco fiasco. Therefore, the Rays and Walls have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.35 million with a 2026 option for $2.45 million. The smooth middle infielder dropped his asking price closer to where the Rays were situated at $1.3 million, as he filed for $1.575 million at the deadline earlier this year.

Some fans may shutter at this new deal because of the 28-year old's poor offensive track record, but there's no question that his defense is unmatched throughout the league and that is honestly most important at a position like shortstop. Obviously, we wish we could boast about having a Bobby Witt Jr. or Trea Turner type player that can display not only defensive prowess, but also incredible hitting and baserunning.

Nonetheless, it does make sense for the Rays to roll into 2025 with Taylor Walls and Jose Caballero as their primary options at this prime position. Both athletes have Gold Glove abilities and they are "nose to the grindstone", hard-working players.

Taylor Walls was drafted by the Rays in 2017 and has been a member of the big league club since his debut in 2021. The Florida State alumni's rookie season portrayed his best career batting average as he finished with a .211/.314/.296 slash line. Clearly those numbers aren't impressive and they would unfortunately degress over the next couple seasons.

Walls was slotted in as the backup when he first reached the majors, but after the loss of former top prospect Wander Franco, the Georgia native was forced into a more frequent role. The switch-hitting shortstop played at least 99 games in both 2022 and 2023, but his production diminished as a result. His defensive play rarely malfunctioned though, as Walls finished the 2023 season as a Gold Glove finalist.

Hopefully, this campaign is more of the same in regards to his fielding stats, but with closer to average-at-best offensive production. If we can receive that from the 5'10 infielder, then the Rays would certainly call this deal a success.