ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have a small crop of homegrown players on their 26-man American League Championship Series roster, guys such as Jonathan Aranda, Ian Seymour and Chandler Simpson, who all came up through the Tampa Bay organization before becoming quality big leaguers.
The club is certainly capable of developing players from the start.
But so many members of the Rays are players who weren’t selected by them in the MLB Draft, or those signed as international free agents. A lot of these guys were acquired differently.
“We try to take the mentality of no stone unturned, and we really spend a lot of time and effort with a wide variety of people analyzing every transaction out there,” assistant general manager Kevin Ibach said. “Hopefully, that pays dividends down the stretch in September and then as we turn the page now into October.”
Seriously -- Tampa Bay leaves no stone unturned. Just look at how each player on its ALCS roster was acquired:
MLB Draft (3): LHP Ian Seymour, OF Chandler Simpson, SS Taylor Walls
International signing (1): 1B Jonathan Aranda
Trade (16): RHP Bryan Baker, 3B Junior Caminero, OF Jonny DeLuca, DH Yandy Díaz, C Nick Fortes, C Liam Hicks, RHP Brody Hopkins, RHP Griffin Jax, OF Victor Mesa Jr., INF Richie Palacios, RHP Freddy Peralta, RHP Drew Rasmussen, RHP Cole Sulser, OF Ryan Vilade, RHP Tyler Wells, 2B Ben Williamson
MLB free agency (4): RHP Nick Martinez, INF Jorge Mateo, LHP Steven Matz, OF Cedric Mullins
MiLB free agency (1): LHP Cam Booser
Rule 5 Draft (1): RHP Kevin Kelly
The fact that 61.5% of the Rays’ roster came over via trades doesn’t even tell the full story.
A lot of those guys weren’t marquee names at the time they were dealt to Tampa Bay. Quite a few of them went through some adversity before landing in this organization, something that should benefit them now as they try to help Tampa Bay take control of the ALCS, which is tied at 1.
Kelly, Hicks and Wells are former Rule 5 Draft picks, players left unprotected by teams that didn’t add them to their 40-man rosters. The Orioles plucked Wells out of the Twins’ organization in 2020, while the Marlins took Hicks from the Tigers in ‘24.
Baker, Mesa and Palacios were each designated for assignment at one point. Mateo and Vilade have each been DFA’d twice. Sulser has been DFA’d three times -- and he’s had two different stints with the Rays (‘19, 2024-present).
Booser even once retired before beginning a long, arduous journey to the Rays’ bullpen.
Now, many of these players are key contributors for Tampa Bay. Baker, who was acquired in a July 2025 trade with the Orioles, tied for the MLB lead with 41 saves. Hicks, Mesa, Palacios and Vilade are all significant pieces of the Rays’ offensive attack.
This is what the Rays do. They’re constantly monitoring ways to improve their roster -- and not just the active roster, but the 40-man as a whole -- and then get the best out of players who have previously experienced low points in the game.
“I think it’s a little bit of the chip-on-the-shoulder mentality, coupled with what we try to build as a really cohesive clubhouse and a really positive culture around here,” Ibach said. “Knowing that they don’t have to step in and be the 3-4 hitter in the lineup, that they can play a complementary role to what we do here and that there’s a spot for them in this type of organization. So I think alleviating some of that pressure that may have followed them at other parts of their career, just coming in here and letting them be themselves and who they are.”
Sometimes, the moves work out, and other times, they don’t. But Tampa Bay’s high-volume approach to waiver-wire transactions has proven to be successful. The Rays also often acquire players who were DFA’d in small trades (either for a low-level prospect or cash), bringing them in before they’re exposed to waivers.
The more chances the organization takes, the more opportunities for potential success stories it has.
Mesa is a great example. The 25-year-old outfielder was DFA’d by the Marlins on Feb. 3, then the Rays traded for him three days later.
Mesa didn’t immediately get a chance with Tampa Bay, first getting called up on May 24. He went on to hit 14 home runs and post an .825 OPS over 79 games this season, while also providing strong defense in right field.
“I think it just really speaks to how much depth matters, certainly through 162 games in the regular season and then into October as well, that every spot on your 40-man roster matters,” Ibach said. “How you acquire a lot of these players, whether it’s through a Rule 5 Draft, whether it’s through waivers, whether it’s through a small trade, they all come into play at some point in the season. And some of them as they ascend throughout the year end up playing meaningful roles in October.
“I think you’re seeing that out there in the field right now.”