""The outfield is three spots we've got to get right. ... I'd probably lean toward the outfield being the area that we're spending the most time and energy, just trying to make sense of how to best put it together for next year," president of baseball operations Erik Neander told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com at the GM Meetings (relayed by MLB.com's Adam Berry)."
"Simpson is the sport's best base stealer and has elite contact skills, but there's zero power and he probably doesn't have the defensive feel to play a good center field. Mangum has a similar contact-only offensive profile. He's a very good base stealer in his own right and a more natural defender than Simpson, but he feels more like a fourth outfielder than a regular."
The Rays are prioritizing revamping the outfield, focusing on assembling the three spots for next year. The club will assess internal players while pursuing external upgrades, having traded Kameron Misner and added Ryan Vilade and Jake Fraley. Fraley's arbitration projection is near $3.6MM. Internal options include Chandler Simpson, Jake Mangum, Jonny DeLuca and Lowe. Simpson delivers elite contact and base-stealing but no power and likely lacks center-field defense. Mangum is a contact-oriented defender who projects more as a fourth outfielder. DeLuca provides speed and defense but minimal power and missed most of 2025 with injuries. Lowe supplied power previously but slumped to a .220/.283/.366 line across 435 plate appearance.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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