Rays Utility Player Draws Trade Interest From Multiple Teams

With their strong first half having lost all its momentum after a series of bullpen implosions just before the All-Star break, the Tampa Bay Rays approach the MLB’s trade deadline in something of a quandary. Are they buyers, or are they sellers?

Usually, if they are to be either, it is the latter. And rarely has this ever been truer than it was this time last year, when all of Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes, Shawn Armstrong, Andrew Kittredge, Amed Rosario, Aaron Civale, Zach Eflin, Phil Maton, Tyler Zuber and Jason Adam were traded in the month of July alone. On the rare occasions that the Rays have been avid buyers – such as in deals for Nelson Cruz and Lucas Duda – they tend to lose.

Although the 2025 Rays are slightly better positioned than their 2024 equivalents – and despite the fact that a sale of the team is reportedly on the cards, which might change – the history suggests they will do their usual thing of trying to keep the trade ball in the air, and move on from veterans in exchange for prospects. With this in mind, a new rumor states that utility man José Caballero is drawing interest on the market from multiple suitors.

 

Caballero’s Career Trajectory

Caballero joined the Rays from the Seattle Mariners in a January 2024 trade that sent outfielder Luke Raley the other way, and although he arrived primarily as a shortstop, he has served as a utility player used all over the field. In 2025, he has played six different outfield positions, adding the outfield glove to the bag and starting nineteen times in right field, a position he had never played before.

Last season, Caballero led the American League with 44 stolen bases, and leads the majors so far in 2025 with 32 more. This relentless aggression and confidence has its drawbacks at the plate, where Caballero’s insistence on trying to be a slugger leads to very high strike-out rates without the power numbers to show for it. Nevertheless, in being able to play anywhere on the field and run on any hitter, plus an improved walk rate to partially compensate for the Ks, Caballero has value to any team as a spot starter, defensive replacement and pinch runner.

This of course includes the Rays, who both need and value that utility. In an ideal world, though, Caballero would be the odd man out.

 

Rays Could Go Either Way

At the time of writing, the Rays have a 53-49 record, and are in fourth place in the American League East, six and a half games back of the surging Toronto Blue Jays. They are however only 0.5 games back of a spot in the AL Wildcard, and have in-season reinforcements on the way already.

Despite another setback in his recovery, club ace Shane McClanahan is still expected to return at some point in 2025, while others such as Hunter Bigge, Manuel Rodriguez, Jonny DeLuca and Richie Palacios to return from injury over the coming weeks. The Rays also have plenty of quality youth knocking on the door such as Joe Boyle, Ian Seymour, Eric Orze, Carson Williams, Dominic Keegan and Bob Seymour all ready to make their mark in the majors.

Precisely because of that. however, space on both the 26- and 40-man rosters is at a premium. The Rays have needed cover at shortstop ever since the Wander Franco situation began, and although Taylor Walls provides elite defence at the position, other options are needed. Ha-Seong Kim is supposed to be one, but has been in and out of the line-up constantly, and aside from some emergency stints from Junior Caminero, no one else at the big league level has been able to play short. Williams is the future, but he is not ready yet.

Turning 29 years old next month and without a starting spot, yet with obvious selling points on the market through his base running abilities and defensive versatility, Caballero is both the obvious one to move and a logical buy for many other teams on the market. Without him, though, the Rays will need a plan to plug the shortstop shortfall.

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