ST. PETERSBURG — Friday’s non-tender deadline came and went without any surprises from the Rays.
While Morel is likely to head elsewhere after a disappointing year and a half with the Rays, the club will be open to bringing back Fraley. They weren’t prepared to tender him a contract at his projected salary by Friday’s deadline, however, especially considering how many outfielders they already have on their roster.
“We’ve expressed a desire to keep the conversations going … if that’s something that he wants to explore on his end,” president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday.
The Rays avoided arbitration with reliever Cole Sulser by signing him to a split contract for next season. The right-hander is set to make $1.05 million in the Majors or $600,000 in Triple-A, and the $600,000 salary is guaranteed.
The Rays tendered contracts for next season to all of their remaining players, including the following 12 who are eligible for arbitration: Shane McClanahan, Griffin Jax, Garrett Cleavinger, Steven Wilson, Shane Baz, Nick Fortes, Josh Lowe, Bryan Baker, Ryan Pepiot, Kevin Kelly, Richie Palacios and Edwin Uceta.
The deadline for clubs and eligible players to exchange arbitration figures is Jan. 8. If they don’t settle on a salary for next season by that deadline, they will either continue negotiations (usually on a multiyear agreement, in the Rays’ case) or proceed to an arbitration hearing.
Sulser split last season between the Majors and Triple-A Durham. The 35-year-old posted a 1.99 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings over 18 appearances for the Rays, and he logged a 1.30 ERA and 0.81 WHIP with 34 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings over 30 outings for Durham.
The Rays will keep in touch with Fraley, whom they designated for assignment less than two weeks after he was claimed off waivers from the Braves. The 30-year-old is a left-handed hitter who can play either corner spot, which would make him somewhat redundant with Lowe and Palacios in an outfield that also currently features Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, Jake Mangum and Ryan Vilade.
If that group is thinned out by injuries or trades, perhaps the Rays will turn back to Fraley, a seven-year veteran who has slashed .248/.333/.402 for the Mariners, Reds and Braves.
The Rays were expected to move on from Morel, the lead piece in their return for All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes in a 2024 Trade Deadline swap with the Cubs, after a disappointing year that he finished as a part-time left fielder. Morel slashed just .208/.277/.355 with 14 homers while totaling minus-1.1 Baseball-Reference WAR in 154 games with Tampa Bay.
Neander praised Morel for his effort and attitude but said Tuesday they “just couldn’t establish the consistency that we were hoping would be there,” which left him without a role moving forward.
