Early Rays All-Star candidates? Start at first base, then make a pitch
TAMPA — Their recent run of improved play has created a lot more talk about the Rays heading into windows of dueling speculation about who should make the All-Star team and who might be traded/acquired.
We'll leave the latter for later and focus on the former.
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Short answer?
Jonathan Aranda and Drew Rasmussen.
And maybe Junior Caminero.
Aranda doesn't have the name recognition around the game, the sexy power stats of the Tigers' Spencer Torkelson (15 homers entering Saturday) or the large-market support in fan voting that will boost the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt.
But what Aranda does have are the best overall numbers. Through Friday, he led American League first basemen on the ballot with a .324 average, .413 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage and .913 OPS. Plus, Aranda had a 2.4 WAR rating, per baseball-reference.com, well ahead of the others.
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If the support of fans in Tampa Bay and his native Mexico doesn't get him the deserved starting spot for the July 15 game, there are chances to be voted in as the backup by league players or added to the team by Major League Baseball (a likely possibility if the Rays don't have any players elected).
Pitcher selections are a bit trickier to handicap, as there are only two avenues to become an All-Star — the players' vote or MLB appointment. Plus, performance tends to waver more. And some pitchers (or their teams) would prefer they rest during the break rather than throw in what can be a brief but maximum effort-type environment.
Rasmussen, who starts Sunday, entered Saturday ranked seventh among AL starters with a 2.14 ERA, fourth with a .189 opponents average and third with a 0.87 WHIP (walks and hits per inning). He has the bump from his 23-inning scoreless streak, the longest active stretch by a starting pitcher.
And, for what it's worth, Rasmussen has an inspiring back story of overcoming three major elbow surgeries.
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Caminero has pushed himself at least into the conversation with his sizzling play the last couple of weeks, his name recognition and his marketing appeal as a 21-year-old potential future star.
With Cleveland's Jose Ramirez the obvious starter at third base and several big names also on the players' ballot, Caminero's best route probably would be to be added by MLB as a backup or late injury replacement.
Among other Rays, Brandon Lowe led all AL second basemen through Friday with 12 homers, and closer Pete Fairbanks ranked eighth with 12 saves.
Home-field advantage
After a road trip that included Tampa and Sacramento, Twins players spoke with The Athletic about playing in the two minor-league stadiums. Things they didn't like about Steinbrenner Field: Pitcher Joe Ryan complained that the game and bullpen mounds are 'massive' by comparison. Outfielder Trevor Larnach said the lighting made tracking fly balls 'really difficult.' Infielder Royce Lewis said he sweated through his batting gloves. 'To stand out in the sun for hours is depleting,' he said.
Trade talk
Trade deadline speculation is already starting, with ESPN's Jeff Passan tabbing Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe as the 'best fit' for the Yankees in what he said feels 'like a match made in heaven.' He similarly paired closer Pete Fairbanks with the Phillies. Passan labeled the Rays 'tweeners' who could buy and sell, said Lowe is their 'best player potentially available' and suggested pitchers Zack Littell and Garrett Cleavinger as potential trade candidates. ... MLB.com's Mark Feinsand asked, Will the Rays be sellers for the second straight year? He mentioned the veteran group of Yandy Diaz, Fairbanks, Littell and Lowe as potential trade candidates.
Rays rumblings
Caminero so badly wants to be part of the Dominican Republic team for the spring World Baseball Classic, he has offered in several interviews to even serve as the water boy. ... The Rays expect to open the 2026 season on the road, a logical move to allow extra time to complete the planned extensive repairs to Tropicana Field. The question is for how long and what other contingency options the team and Major League Baseball will work out. ... Per the Umpire Auditor experts, the Tyler Mahle pitch that Laz Diaz Tuesday called strike three on Rays outfielder Jake Mangum was 6.83 inches outside, the worst call since the X account started tracking in 2014. ... Kameron Misner's arching home run to left in that game wasn't notable solely for eluding the FanDuel TV cameras. With an exit velocity of 88.9 mph, it was the softest-hit homer of the season, per Statcast. ... The Steinbrenner Field scoreboard timer tracking how long it takes the grounds crew to roll up the tarp is a fun feature. .... MLB.com's latest mock draft has the Rays using the No. 14 pick on Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High shortstop Steele Hall, with FSU/Tampa Jesuit lefty Jamie Arnold going fifth to St. Louis. ... Both sides have touted the strength of their cases in the opening round of hearings in shortstop Wander Franco's trial in the Dominican Republic, which continues Monday morning. ... With Friday's win, the Rays chances to make the playoffs, by fangraphs.com calculations, increased to 48.5%, a hefty hike from 11.2% on May 19. ... Carson Williams, the 21-year-old still struggling at Triple-A Durham (.186 average, .651 OPS), dropped to 32nd overall in Baseball America's June top prospects update after being 11th entering spring training. Williams is now 12th among shortstops. Other ranked Rays are Xavier Isaac (76), Theo Gillen (79) and Chandler Simpson (84). ... New catcher Matt Thaiss and Brandon Lowe were college foes, though Thaiss' Virginia squad twice eliminated Lowe's Maryland team. ...Kaden Waechter, son of former Rays pitcher/current TV analyst Doug and Kristin, is 21st overall and fifth among right-handed pitchers in Baseball America's ranking of 2026 high school draft prospects. Jesuit teammate Wilson Andersen is 26th and sixth. ... Ex-Ray Carlos Pena was hired as general manager of the Escogido team in the Dominican winter league for which Caminero plays.
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