A report by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon and Katie Woo revealed that the Tampa Bay Rays were in the market for a short-term starting pitcher.
The Rays traditionally have not been a club that spends a lot of money on players. However, the club is now under new ownership. Longtime owner Stuart Sternberg sold the team to an ownership group led by Patrick Zalupski. The report indicates that while there is no confirmation that the new owners will look to increase payroll, there is certainly more room for optimism.
Phillies starter Taijuan Walker is set to enter the final season of his contract with the organization. Walker is set to make $18 million in 2026 before likely reaching free agency. The veteran right-hander had a strong bounce back this past year from a career low in 2024.
With one of the strongest rotations in baseball, this could be an area that the Phillies look to deal from. A move from Walker could, in theory, open up a spot for Andrew Painter at the start of next season. A team that is expected to contend, however, might not want to weaken its depth in a key area.
A potential deal with Tampa would see the Phillies retaining salary on Walker’s contract for next season. Cutting down the $18 million would be a requirement for Tampa, but it could strengthen their return package to Philadelphia. If Tampa were also able to move on from its own payroll costs, that could encourage both sides to reach a deal.
Players such as Yandy Diaz and Brandon Lowe have both been linked to the Phillies as potential trade targets. Diaz, a designated hitter at this point in his career, is an excellent right-handed hitter. Last season, he posted 3.4 WAR with a .300 batting average and .848 OPS in 150 games for Tampa. While he did play in a minor league stadium for his home games, Diaz has traditionally always been a great hitter. He would project as a potential replacement for Kyle Schwarber if the team is unable to bring him back this offseason.
Brandon Lowe would be another intriguing option for the Phillies. The second baseman had a resurgent season with Tampa in 2025. Lowe hit 31 home runs and finished the season with a .785 OPS. He played primarily first and second base for the Rays, so he would have to be another potential DH alternative with Bryce Harper holding down first base. If the team moved on from Bryson Stott at second base, that would be a logical replacement as well. However, Lowe is nowhere near the caliber of defender that Stott has proven to be.
Diaz is set to make $12 million in 2026 with a club option for $10 million in 2027. Lowe is going to make $11.5 million next season and will enter 2027 as a free agent. In a deal for Walker, there would likely be additional minor league players added to make ends meet.
The Phillies can leverage their big-market strength in a deal like this with Tampa Bay. If they retain some of Walker’s contract and remove a Diaz or Lowe from Tampa’s payroll, they could find themselves making yet another trade with the Florida club.
This would be Dave Dombrowski’s ninth trade with the Rays since taking over as President of Baseball Operations for the Phillies. They clearly have a working relationship with the front office in Tampa, so time will tell if another deal hits the press.
