Sports · Baseball · 1 day ago
Rays’ low-cost additions helped fuel their run to the ALCS
The Tampa Bay Rays reached the American League Championship Series with major contributions from five players they acquired in different ways.
Kevin Kelly came through the Rule 5 Draft, Nick Martinez signed as a free agent, and Bryan Baker, Victor Mesa Jr. and Liam Hicks arrived in trades.
Martinez was the only one of the five with a relatively high cost; the other four made less than $4 million combined in 2026.
The team’s ability to find and develop useful players has helped it get strong value from its roster.
The Boston Red Sox tried to acquire catcher Hunter Feduccia before Tampa Bay traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Feduccia is now a backup in Los Angeles, and Boston could consider him again if it wants a different backup for Adley Rutschman.
Baltimore Orioles relievers Andrew Kittredge and Keegan Akin may become free agents, while Akin could miss all of 2027 after Tommy John surgery; the Orioles could consider a contract that pays him more in 2028.
Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Victor Mesa Jr., Liam Hicks and Nick Martinez played major roles in the Tampa Bay Rays’ run to the American League Championship Series.
The team acquired the five through a mix of a Rule 5 Draft pick, trades and a free-agent signing.
Martinez was the only relatively expensive player; the other four made less than $4 million combined in 2026.
The account credits the Rays’ scouting, analytics and player development work with finding players who delivered strong returns.
The Rays could win the franchise’s first World Series this fall.
- Who
- The Tampa Bay Rays, including players Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Victor Mesa Jr., Liam Hicks and Nick Martinez.
- What
- The players helped the Rays reach the ALCS after the team identified and acquired them through different routes.
- When
- This season; the article was published on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Tampa Bay, Florida, and the American League.
- Why
- The article credits the Rays’ scouting department, analytics team and development staff with finding and developing players who made strong contributions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The Rays acquired Kevin Kelly from the Rockies as a Rule 5 Draft pick.
The Rays signed Nick Martinez to a one-year, $13 million free-agent deal.
The Rays acquired Victor Mesa Jr. from the Marlins in a trade.
The Rays acquired Bryan Baker from the Orioles for a Competitive Balance Round draft pick.
The Rays acquired Liam Hicks from the Marlins.
Baker, Kelly, Mesa, Hicks and Martinez helped the Rays reach the ALCS.
- Rays’ ALCS contributors
- Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Victor Mesa Jr., Liam Hicks and Nick Martinez
- Martinez contract
- One year, $13 million
- Other four players’ combined 2026 salary
- Less than $4 million
- Baker acquisition
- Traded from the Orioles in July 2025 for a Competitive Balance Round draft pick
- Kelly acquisition
- Rule 5 Draft pick from the Rockies in 2022
Sources
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