Red Sox Latest Free Agent Splash Is Disastrous For Rays Chances To Compete

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Despite having a fewer holes connected their roster to still address, nan Tampa Bay Rays look for illustration they are done doing their dense lifting for this offseason.

They added seasoned Cedric Mullins to thief stabilize nan outfield, on pinch high-upside imaginable Jacob Melton from nan Houston Astros, successful nan three-team woody that saw 2nd baseman Brandon Lowe traded to nan Pittsburgh Pirates.

In different waste and acquisition pinch nan Baltimore Orioles, right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz was connected nan move for a haul of prospects. A semipermanent reply down nan sheet was acquired successful Caden Bodine, on pinch outfielder Slater de Brun arsenic nan headliners.

Alas, location are still immoderate mobility marks successful nan lineup. An discourtesy that was underwhelming successful 2025 doesn’t task to beryllium amended this upcoming season, particularly pinch Lowe nary longer successful nan mix.

Red Sox signing Ranger Suarez is bad news for Rays

Sep 27, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) throws a transportation against nan Minnesota Twins during nan first inning astatine Citizens Bank Park. | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

He was 1 of 4 players connected nan squad to execute astatine an above-average level past year. The Rays are going to request different players to measurement up, particularly pinch their rivals successful nan American League East continuing to upgrade.

The latest free agency scatter has erstwhile again travel from 1 of their rivals. The Boston Red Sox, who mislaid 3rd baseman Alex Bregman to nan Chicago Cubs successful free agency, person put that money correct backmost into nan team.

They person signed left-handed pitcher Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 cardinal woody to springiness nan Red Sox 1 of nan deepest and astir talented starting rotations successful baseball. Suarez will slot successful down Garrett Crochet, on pinch nan recently acquired Sonny Gray arsenic well.

Regardless of what domiciled he has been asked to fill, he has performed well. As a starter, Suarez has an ERA of 3.45, and arsenic a reliever, it is an awesome 2.91. An All-Star successful 2024, nan only point that has held him backmost is health.

The Red Sox's first signing of nan wintertime is simply a large 1 -- $130 cardinal for Ranger Suárez -- and gives them a ton of rotation extent pinch Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Brayan Bello and others. Boston now will move to adding different bat to its lineup, but that rotation is excellent.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 14, 2026

When he is connected nan mound, he has performed for illustration a frontline starter. But his profession precocious for starts is 29, which occurred successful 2022. In 2025, he threw nan astir innings successful a azygous run pinch 157.1.

Now connected nan incorrect broadside of 30, location whitethorn beryllium immoderate semipermanent concerns for Suarez. But, correct now, this is simply a awesome signing and sadistic news for nan Rays.

What makes it worse for Tampa Bay is that their lineup already struggled against left-handed pitching successful 2025. They recorded a slash statement of .234/.295/.372 against southpaws, which ranks 21st, 24th and 21st successful nan MLB. Their OPS+ of 90 is good beneath nan convention mean arsenic well.

A lineup that hasn’t been upgraded a ton successful nan offseason could look immoderate existent obstacles against a Boston rotation that now features 2 fantabulous lefties.