RADIO
Rays Acquiring Freddy Peralta From the Mets
The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring right-handed starting pitcher Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets on Sunday, league sources told Will Sammon of The Athletic. It's unclear who the Rays sent to the Mets in return. Peralta was basically a lock to be traded by Monday's Aug. 3 deadline from the last-place Mets after he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in January of this year. The 30-year-old veteran Dominican hurler hasn't exactly had a great 2026 season in Queens, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA (4.45 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 113 strikeouts and 48 walks in 113 2/3 innings across his 22 starts for the Mets. Since June 20, Peralta has gone off the rails, allowing 33 runs (27 earned) on 45 hits (seven home runs) while walking 15 and striking out 32 in 30 2/3 innings in seven starts (four losses). It all started when he allowed a season-high 10 earned runs to the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies on June 20 on the road. The good news is that Peralta's expected ERA for 2026 sits more than a full run lower than his current ERA, and his xSLG of .363 (SLG of .448) shows that he was hit with some bad luck in his short time with the Mets. The Rays will be hoping to turn his season around down the stretch as they look to stay atop the American League East.
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
Griffin Jax Is Too Good to Leave on the Waiver Wire
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax has settled into a full-time rotation role and now owns a 3.74 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts across 86 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 Texas Rangers while allowing one earned run on five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings Tuesday, although Tampa Bay's quiet offense left him with the loss in a 4-1 game. The occasional blowup remains the concern, most recently when Boston tagged Jax for seven runs on July 17. His strikeout ability, stable workload, and SP/RP eligibility still make that risk worth accepting. RotoBaller's Week 18 rankings had Jax on 53% of Yahoo rosters and placed him 20th overall with an add recommendation for leagues of 10 teams or deeper. He is too valuable to remain available at that league depth.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Shane McClanahan Headed to the Injured List Due to Back Issue
Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) will be placed on the 15-day injured list, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin also reports that Neander characterized McClanahan's injury as "pretty minor" and that the team is hopeful he will only miss two starts. After missing the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons due to elbow and triceps injuries, McClanahan has managed to stay relatively healthy in 2026. Across 99 1/3 innings (20 starts) on the year, the 29-year-old has recorded a 9-6 record with a 3.09 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts. McClanahan may not carry the same high-end upside he did before his extended battle with arm troubles, but he remains a quality source of ratios for fantasy managers when healthy.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Shane McClanahan Exits With Apparent Back Issue
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan (back) left Thursday's start against the Texas Rangers after three innings with an apparent lower-back issue, according to Ryan Bass. McClanahan reached toward his lower back and tried to stretch before walking off with head athletic trainer Joe Benge. The left-hander did not allow a hit, but he was charged with one run after issuing two walks and hitting a batter. He struck out three and threw 49 pitches, 29 for strikes. Tampa Bay has not announced a diagnosis or said whether McClanahan will need testing. Fantasy managers should consider his next start uncertain until the Rays provide more information.
Source: Ryan Bass
Source: Ryan Bass
Griffin Jax Punches Out a Season-High 10 Batters in Loss to Rangers
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax may have taken a loss on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, but the 31-year-old former reliever was still dominant for fantasy managers. Jax allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out a season-high 10 hitters in 5 2/3 innings pitched for his eighth loss of the year in the 4-1 defeat at Tropicana Field. The 31-year-old reliever turned starter is now sporting a 3.74 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 92:30 K:BB in his 86 2/3 innings pitched in his sixth major-league season (first full year in Tampa). Jax blew his first two save chances to open the 2026 campaign as the Rays' primary closing option, and Tampa eventually moved him to the starting rotation, where he's been more valuable in fantasy baseball. Since joining the rotation on April 26, Jax has gone 5-5 with a 3.38 ERA (3.83 FIP) with 72 strikeouts and 20 walks in 72 innings across 16 starts. He allowed a season-high seven earned runs in five innings against the Boston Red Sox on July 17, but since then, he's given up just two earned runs with two walks and 15 K's in two starts versus the Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Ian Seymour a High-Upside Starting Pitching Target on the Waiver Wire
After opening 2026 as a reliever, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour was moved into more of a bulk role in early June. While Seymour has not exclusively operated as a full-time starting pitcher, he's thrown at least three innings in each of his last 10 outings, making six starts in that span. Across those 10 appearances, Seymour has recorded a 3-2 record with a 4.22 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts. The 27-year-old has posted an impressive 28.1% strikeout rate and a 19.3% K-BB rate for the season. His inflated ERA is a symptom of his abnormally low 66.5% strand rate, which could regress closer to the mean over a larger sample size of innings. Now that he's a threat to rack up wins on a regular basis, Seymour could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Griffin Jax Is Back on Track as a Mixed-League Rotation Add
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax bounced back from a rough outing with six strong innings against Toronto on Wednesday, July 22. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk, struck out five, and earned his sixth win. Jax had been tagged for seven earned runs by Boston in his previous start, but the response brought his season line to a 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts over 81 innings. The move from the bullpen has stuck, with Jax now up to 16 starts in 27 appearances. He also carries SP/RP eligibility, making those innings easier to fit into fantasy lineups. Jax appears on 53% of Yahoo rosters, while RotoBaller ranks him as a 10-team addition. One blowup should not erase the larger body of work. Jax should not remain available in competitive mixed leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ty Johnson Goes on Developmental List After Stellar Triple-A Play
Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Ty Johnson has had a great season at Triple-A Durham and was recently placed on the Developmental List. Johnson has pitched to a 4-1 record at Durham with a 2.74 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. He has amassed 65 strikeouts in his 49 1/3 innings pitched. Johnson, a former 15th round pick by the Cubs out of Ball State, will spend time working with coaches on mechanics and likely work to perfect the nuances of his pitching skill set. Fantasy managers will have to take pause because the Development List is indefinite, meaning there is no timetable for Johnson to return to the Triple-A rotation. There is no doubt that time on the Development List could do him good, but his numbers were already quite good at the Triple-A level, and the next step could be with the Rays in Tampa Bay. It is best to take a wait-and-see approach, but Johnson could find himself in the big league mix shortly.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Ian Seymour Emerging as a Breakout Candidate to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 64 2/3 innings (33 games) in 2026, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour has recorded a 6-2 record with a 4.59 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 75 strikeouts. The 27-year-old opened the year in a traditional relief role, but he's been operating as a starter or bulk reliever since early June. Seymour has demonstrated intriguing swing-and-miss upside overall this season, posting a 27.8% strikeout rate. He's been even better since moving into his current role, recording a 30.9% strikeout rate over his last seven outings (33 2/3 innings). While Seymour's ERA is a bit elevated, he's been hurt by an abnormally low 66.2% strand rate. If the left-hander can do a better job of getting out of jams in the second half of the season, he could be a major value-add for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brody Hopkins Sees Struggles Linger as MLB Debut Appears Increasingly Unlikely
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Brody Hopkins was expected to be in serious contention to make his MLB debut this summer. However, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the system has struggled to show consistency at Durham, which has prevent hm form eanring the call. Since June 1 (his last 23 2/3 innings), Hopkins has posted a rough 7.23 ERA with a 32:27 K:BB. While he has allowed no runs in three of these outings, he surrendered a hefty 19 runs in the other four. Additionally, Hopkins has struggled to avoid high counts, inflating his walk rate. Through 71 2/3 innings on the season, Hopkins has allowed a high 70 free passes with a 1.65 WHIP. While an injury to the Tampa rotation could open the door, given his inconsistencies, the Rays are unlikely to call his name down the stretch.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Drew Rasmussen Is a Buy-Low After Yankees Blowup
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen gave fantasy managers a sour finish to an otherwise excellent first half, allowing six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees on July 9. That one start raised his ERA from 2.78 to 3.26. The rest still looks clean: a 0.95 WHIP, 98 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings, and only 17 walks. The new changeup is doing real work. Rasmussen barely used it last season, but the pitch is up to 12.2% usage with a .178 xwOBA and 38.9% whiff rate. His strikeout rate has climbed from 21.7% to 25%, while the walk rate has dropped from 6.3% to 4.3%. The elbow history and likely 170-inning cap remain the concern, not what he is doing on the mound. If the Yankees blowup softened the price, buy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Griffin Jax Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target
After a disappointing beginning to the 2026 season while working out of the bullpen, Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax has found success since being moved into his team's rotation in late April. Across 24 appearances (13 starts) on the year, Jax has recorded a 4-6 record with a 3.60 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched. Dating back to June 7, Jax owns a 3-2 record with a 2.32 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts across 31 innings (six starts). In that span, Jax owns a 30.3% strikeout rate with just a 5.0% walk rate, good for an elite 25.3% K-BB rate. In any fantasy league where Jax is not already rostered, he profiles as a priority waiver wire pickup.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ty Johnson Emerging as Worthy Stash Candidate with Elite Strikeout Potential
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Ty Johnson has begun to showcase high-end strikeout potential at the Triple-A level and has put himself on the stash radar for those in deeper leagues. Over his last three contests (15 1/3 innings), Johnson has struck out at least nine hitters in each game. However, he has had varying levels of success in these three starts, surrendering six runs back on June 18, but has bounced back well, holding a 1.80 ERA over his last two games (10 innings). Overall, through 49 1/3 innings with Durham this season, the No. 18-ranked prospect in the system per MLB.com has carried a 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 65:19 K:BB. While the emergence of Ian Seymour has blocked Johnson from an immediate promotion, he is worth following in deeper formats as he could find a role later in the season.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Ian Seymour Continues to Impress as a Starter, Fans 12 on Tuesday
Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour had another impressive start on Tuesday against the division-rival New York Yankees after he opened the season in the Rays' bullpen. Seymour allowed three earned runs on five hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out a career-high 12 batters in 5 1/3 innings for his sixth win of the season. The 27-year-old former second-rounder in 2020 out of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University entered Tuesday's appearance with a 4.02 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with two saves, 60 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 56 innings over 31 appearances (four starts) in his second year in the majors with Tampa. All of the runs that Seymour allowed on Tuesday came on a three-run homer by Ben Rice. He also generated 17 swings and misses on 94 pitches. In his four starts and two bulk relief appearances, Seymour has a 2.97 ERA while going at least five innings in his last four outings. Seymour is quickly generating waiver-wire interest in his transition to a starting role, and he's rostered in just under half of Yahoo leagues. His final start of the first half is scheduled to come this weekend against the Seattle Mariners.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Griffin Jax Picks Up Loss Against Yankees But Fans 10 Batters
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Griffin Jax strengthened his case as a waiver-wire pickup in his latest outing at home against the division-rival New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. Jax took his sixth loss of the year in a 5-1 defeat and allowed three earned runs, but he gave up just one hit (a three-run homer to utility man Jose Caballero), walked two, and struck out a career-high 10 batters on the night. The 31-year-old retired the first 13 batters he faced, but he ran into trouble in the fifth frame with two walks before giving up a three-run jack to Caballero that opened the game up for the Yanks. Jax threw 51 of his 81 pitches for strikes and generated 16 swings and misses from Yankees hitters. He's now at a 3.60 ERA on the year with a 1.22 WHIP in 65 innings in what has been a successful transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation in Tampa. He's rostered in 61% of Yahoo leagues and is slated to make his final start of the first half this weekend at home against the Seattle Mariners. Since becoming a full-time starter on April 26, Jax has gone 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA (4.09 FIP) with 48 strikeouts and 13 walks in 51 innings pitched.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
