Rays Boss Neander Says Team Intends To Keep Pitcher Rasmussen

Tampa Bay Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander announced on Tuesday that the team intends to retain pitcher Drew Rasmussen. This shift in strategy contrasts with the Rays' typical practice of trading star players before their contracts expire. Rasmussen, who earned a $20 million option, has been a consistent top-performer, projected to finish in the top 10 of Cy Young voting for a second consecutive season.

The decision to keep him comes as the Rays have made three consecutive American League Championship appearances and have yet to miss the playoffs in the last two seasons. Rasmussen's age-31 campaign presents the prospect of commanding a substantial salary if he remains healthy. While the team usually trades players at this stage to gain value before their free agency, Neander asserts that Rasmussen's health and performance make him an anchor for their 2027 rotation.

The Rays have not indicated a willingness to extend him long-term, instead projecting him to become the highest-paid player in franchise history. Rasmussen's absence due to injury could impact the team's other pitchers, potentially leading to the non-tendering of Edwin Uceta, a reliever who missed the first half of the 2027 season due to shoulder surgery.