Last offseason, the Rays had a club option for Taylor Walls. There was some uncertainty at the time if the Rays would choose to go with Walls for the 2026 campaign with Carson Williams seemingly ready to take over. But not only did the Rays accept their option on Walls, but the two sides agreed to a deal that added an option for the 2027 season.
The Rays faced the exact same situation entering this offseason and have chosen to excercise Walls’ 2027 option. Thus paying him $3.1M for the 2027 campaign;
MLB Trade Rumors projected Walls to receive $3.5M in what would have been his final year of arbitration eligibility.
The 30-year old switch-hitting Walls provided the Rays with exactly what they expected as he hit .222/.309/.298 with 2 HR over 433 PA. The 74 wRC+ he finished the season with was his highest offensive output since the 2023 campaign where he finished the year with a 84 wRC+. It’s not the offense that had Walls as the Rays starting shortstop in the World Series though, it’s his defense which is among the best in all of baseball. Among shorstops all-time on FanGraphs with at least 2000 innings played, Walls ranks 9th in DRS. The baseball world took notice as Walls was finally awarded a Gold Glove award after his third career nomination.
