ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays front office settled a significant portion of its offseason business on Thursday, agreeing to contract terms with nine of their 10 arbitration-eligible players for the 2026 season.
The flurry of deals avoids the need for arbitration hearings with nearly the entire group, securing key pieces of the roster just ahead of Spring Training.
The list of players locked in for the upcoming campaign covers critical areas of the field, headlined by outfielder Josh Lowe and starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot.
READ: Batter Up: Tampa Bay Rays Reveal 2026 Spring Training Ticket Dates And New Fan Packages
The team also established cost certainty for a large chunk of its bullpen, agreeing to terms with right-handers Bryan Baker, Griffin Jax, Kevin Kelly, and Steven Wilson, as well as left-hander Garrett Cleavinger. Catcher Nick Fortes and infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios rounded out the group of nine.
While the vast majority of the team’s eligible players settled, the Rays were unable to bridge the gap with right-handed pitcher Edwin Uceta.
The club will now proceed to an arbitration hearing with the reliever to determine his salary for the 2026 season.
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