Rays urged to consider signing three-time All-Star catcher before it's too late

Jared Bloom

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Rays urged to consider signing three-time All-Star catcher before it's too late image

The last two seasons have been challenging for the Tampa Bay Rays and their fanbase. They have struggled to get anything going, and with Hurricane Milton wreaking havoc on Tropicana Field, the club had to play its home games at Steinbrenner Field this past season. 

Now, the club is ready to return to its ballpark and put these two rocky seasons behind it. However, that could prove to be difficult this upcoming season. 

Tampa Bay has lost some key contributors this offseason and has not made a significant splash on the open market yet, with its biggest addition likely being Cedric Mullins. 

MORE: Rays get $3.5 million shortstop in international signing

Rays urged to consider signing three-time All-Star catcher before it's too late

Brandon Lowe was sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Shane Baz was sent to the Baltimore Orioles. They also lost their closer, Peter Fairbanks, after he signed a one-year deal with the Miami Marlins, and lost Adrian Houser after he signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. 

While Fairbanks and Lowe have been great in Tampa, moving on from them cleared a good amount of salary. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller believes the team should use that money and go and sign J.T. Realmuto. 

"Catcher and second base are the two low-hanging fruit where they could make the biggest gains–though, with 'realistic' prominently in the headline, we won't bother mentioning Bo Bichette as an option. Maybe J.T. Realmuto, though? He's no longer the Silver Slugger that he used to be, but surely he can provide more than the MLB-worst.592 OPS the Rays got from their backstops in 2025."

The Rays played a game of musical chairs last season at backstop. None of them were noteworthy, and Realmuto could be a huge upgrade at the position. 

While they still have holes to fill, a Realmuto singing could be something that gets the fans excited about the new season.

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Staff Writer