Yankees Signing Top Free Agent Would Make Things More Challenging for Rays

If the New York Yankees signed a star free agent, would the Tampa Bay Rays be able to keep up?

Apr 7, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees baseball hats and gloves in the dugout out in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. | David Reginek-Imagn Images

The offseason has started for the Tampa Bay Rays, and they have already started to make some moves. 

This is going to be a team that is interesting to watch with the potential of them being very active this winter in a couple of different areas. The Rays could be both buyers and sellers a bit this offseason to improve the team overall. 

This year was a bit of a tale of two campaigns for the team with the first half of the year being very strong, but things went south during the summer. However, the strong first half of the campaign showed that they can contend. 

While Tampa Bay might be able to contend, it won’t be easy, and this division is going to be one of the best in baseball. The Toronto Blue Jays were as close as you can get to winning the World Series, and they also had two other teams in the division make the playoffs. 2026 will likely be a challenge for the Rays as well, and the division might be getting even better. 

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently wrote about the New York Yankees being a potential landing spot for Chicago Cubs star Kyle Tucker, which wouldn’t be good news for the Rays. 

Tucker Signing With Yankees Would Make Things Challenging

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Due to New York having their outfielder, Cody Bellinger, opt out of his contract, it has created a void that will need to be filled. While bringing Bellinger back is certainly a strong possibility for the team, they could also pivot and look to make a significant splash with the addition of Kyle Tucker. 

The star outfielder is the top free agent available and makes a lot of sense for the Yankees now that Bellinger opted out. Last season, Tucker was an NL MVP candidate in the first half but struggled when trying to play through an injury in the second half. Regardless, he is going to receive a massive contract this winter. 

If Tucker were to sign with the Yankees, it would be a significant development in the AL East and make things much harder for the Rays. Having to deal with a potential combination of Aaron Judge and Tucker in the division would likely solidify New York as the team to beat heading into the campaign. 

Tampa Bay has shown that they can hang with some of the best of the best in the division, but adding another star into the division would make things even more challenging than they already are.