Rays Say No Plans to Trade Drew Rasmussen
Tampa Bay's baseball chief says the team has no plans to trade the right-hander after exercising his $20 million option for 2027.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Baseball
Tampa Bay Rays President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander said the team has no plans to trade Drew Rasmussen. The Rays exercised the $20 million 2027 option on the right-hander, which had fueled speculation about a trade.
Why it matters
The Rays are coming off a 2026 season in which they won the American League East and the AL pennant before losing the World Series, and keeping Rasmussen signals the club intends to build around its pitching. The clarification also addresses fan speculation that a $20 million commitment would lead to a move.
The Rays picked up Rasmussen's $20 million option for 2027, and he has one more season of team control. Tampa Bay has never had a player earn $20 million in a single season.
The players
Erik Neander
Neander is the Tampa Bay Rays President of Baseball Operations, overseeing the club's baseball decisions.
Drew Rasmussen
Rasmussen is a Tampa Bay Rays right-handed starting pitcher who has been an All-Star in back-to-back seasons.
Marc Topkin
Topkin is a longtime Tampa Bay Times baseball reporter who covers the Rays.
The details
Neander addressed the matter publicly, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times shared the comments on X. Rasmussen has been an All-Star in back-to-back seasons and is projected to anchor the Rays' starting rotation in 2027.
Timeline
2026: The Rays won the AL East and the AL pennant, then lost the World Series.
November 3, 2026: Neander stated the team has no plans to trade Rasmussen.
2027 season: Rasmussen's $20 million option season, with a planned rotation role.
Season Trajectory
The Rays' 2026 American League East title and pennant run set expectations for 2027, and keeping Rasmussen on a $20 million option positions him as a central starter for that push. The move reflects a club building on its recent success rather than retooling after a World Series loss.
Rasmussen is planned to anchor the Rays' starting rotation in 2027, which shapes how fantasy managers and fans should view his value for next season. Because the club kept him on the $20 million option, a trade is not expected in the near term.
The takeaway
Keeping Rasmussen signals the Rays are counting on a veteran starter to stabilize their rotation after a deep 2026 run. Readers following the team should expect him to be a central part of the 2027 plan.
Further reading
For more on the club's pitching staff, see Baseball coverage of the Tampa Bay Rays.
