Rays' Taylor Walls Wins First Gold Glove
Shortstop Taylor Walls claimed his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award while Tampa Bay exercised a $20 million option on pitcher Drew Rasmussen.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Sunday night. On Saturday, the Rays exercised a $20 million option on pitcher Drew Rasmussen for the 2027 season.
Why it matters
Walls had been a Gold Glove finalist in 2023 and 2025, and his win marks the first Rays Gold Glove since Kevin Kiermaier in 2019. The option decision keeps Rasmussen under club control, with the price rising after he stayed healthy and made at least 28 starts in 2026.
Rasmussen's 2027 club option was exercised at $20 million instead of paying a $500,000 buyout, up from the original $8 million price. The source does not report further salary or performance projections beyond the option year.
The players
Taylor Walls
Taylor Walls is a shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays who earned his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award after being a finalist in 2023 and 2025.
Drew Rasmussen
Drew Rasmussen is a Tampa Bay Rays pitcher whose 2027 club option was exercised for $20 million, and who previously pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball franchise based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the 2026 American League champion.
The details
The Rays picked up Rasmussen's 2027 club option rather than pay the buyout, after he threw a career-high 172 innings this season. Rays also declined mutual options on Nick Martinez and Cedric Mullins on Friday.
Timeline
January 2025: Rasmussen and the Rays agreed to a two-year, $8.5 million deal.
2026 season: Rasmussen made at least 28 starts, raising the option price.
Friday: The Rays declined mutual options on Nick Martinez and Cedric Mullins.
Saturday: The Rays exercised the $20 million option on Drew Rasmussen.
Sunday night: Taylor Walls was awarded his first Rawlings Gold Glove.
Season Trajectory
Walls's award is the first Rays Gold Glove since Kevin Kiermaier's 2019 honor, following Evan Longoria's 2017 win. Rasmussen's option decision keeps a key starter in place for a team that reached the 2026 American League championship.
Rasmussen's 2027 option is now guaranteed at $20 million, so he is under Rays control through next season. Walls's Gold Glove recognition is the kind of award that affects how fantasy and roster evaluations view shortstops in the Rays lineup.
The takeaway
The Rays' moves show a team locking in a productive starter at a rising price while rewarding a defender with league recognition. Readers tracking the club can watch how Rasmussen's 2027 season sets up his next contract.
Further reading
For more on Rays roster moves and awards, explore Baseball coverage in St. Petersburg.
