Former General Manger Jim Bowden’s annual free agency column at the Athletic offers the keenest insights into contract projections out there. Usually this exercise is something skippable for Rays fans, as the likelihood the team will be spending top dollar is fairly low, but there’s an unusually high number of Rays-related free agents on the list this time around.
Read the full article at The Athletic for reasoning, possible destinations, and historical detail.
We’ll start with the current Rays players,
which includes Nick Martinez who declined his player option for next year that would have paid him $16 million in 2027.
2. Freddy Peralta, RHP
Salary comps: Dylan Cease (7 years, $210 million); Carlos Rodón (6 years, $162 million); Jesús Luzardo (5 years, $135 million); Robbie Ray (5 years, $115 million); Tyler Glasnow (5 years, $136.6 million)
Best team fits: San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
Contract prediction: 5 years, $140 million
13. Nick Martinez, RHP
Salary comps: Merrill Kelly (2 years, $40 million); Chris Bassitt (1 year, $18.5 million); Sonny Gray (3 years, $75 million); Seth Lugo (2 years, $46 million)
Contract prediction: 2 years, $48 million
And now here are some former names you might be keeping tabs on…
5. Randy Arozarena, LF
Salary comps: Teoscar Hernández (3 years, $66 million); Trent Grisham (1 year, $22.025 million — Qualifying Offer); Jung Hoo Lee (6 years, $113 million); Brandon Nimmo (8 years, $162 million); Cody Bellinger (5 years, $162.5 million)
Contract prediction: 5 years, $124 million
7. Jake Bauers, 1B/OF
Salary comps: Josh Naylor (5 years, $92.5 million); Willson Contreras (5 years, $87.5 million); Jake Cronenworth (7 years, $80 million); Christian Walker (3 years, $60 million)
Contract prediction: 4 years, $56 million
9. Brandon Lowe, 2B
Salary comps: Gleyber Torres (1 year, $22.025 million — Qualifying Offer); Luis Arraez (1 year, $12 million); Tommy Edman (5 years, $74 million); Jeff McNeil (4 years, $50 million)
Contract prediction: 3 years, $45 million
