Rays strike minor league deals with 2 players that could make an impact this year

Minor league contracts, especially for the Rays, seem to be the best way for clubs to find that "diamond in the rough" that can still impact the results of a season. Despite the depth at some positions on the Rays roster, others such as catcher and middle infield could use some immediate reinforcements. These minor league deals are a way for the front office to bring low-risk options that are still fully capable of making a difference.

Rays sign former Giants catcher Blake Sabol to a minor league deal

Blake Sabol was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 2019 draft. The California native put up impressive offensive numbers in the minor leagues as he hit a collective .259 with 52 home runs across five seasons. He was traded to the Giants in 2022 and he made his major league debut the next season. In his rookie campaign, the 6'4 backstop hit .235 in 110 contests. Sabol was primarily placed behind the plate, but he also spent 43 games in the outfield, highlighting his versatility. He also crushed 13 homers and drove in 44 runs, both respectable stats for a young catcher.

The 28-year-old put up average defensive metrics as he finished his rookie year with a .987 fielding percentage behind the plate. Sabol also only threw out 15.9% of the 43 runners that attempted to steal against him. Those are below average stats, especially compared to Phillies catcher JT Realmuto, who caught about 30% of runners in 2025. Nonetheless, catcher is a declining position in the Rays clubhouse, so an adaptable player like Sabol could bode well in Tampa.

Rays sign 29-year-old outfielder Edward Olivares to a minor league deal

Edward Olivares has been in the league for five seasons now, but he has yet to produce above a 0.2 WAR for a full season. The best part of the Venezuelan athlete's career came in Kansas City where he played four seasons and produced a .265 AVG with 23 home runs. If the Rays can tap into that clear potential, then Olivares could certainly be someone to put on your radar as a Rays fan, especially if we see a lot of injuries in the outfield again.