Tampa Bay Rays Trade Former Top Prospect to San Francisco Giants

Tampa Bay designated Osleivis Basabe for assignment earlier this week and then traded him to the Giants on Thursday.

Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Osleivis Basabe (37) scores from second base against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre in 2023. | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

After acquiring pitcher Alex Faedo earlier this week in a trade with the Detroit Tigers, the Tampa Bay Rays made another move on Thursday, shipping out infielder Oslevis Basabe to the San Francisco Giants.

In exchange, the Rays acquired cash, according to reporter Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

#Rays trade INF Osleivis Basabe, who was DFA'd earlier this week, to #SFGiants for cash considerations

#Rays trade INF Osleivis Basabe, who was DFA'd earlier this week, to #SFGiants for cash considerations

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 6, 2025

Basabe, 24, is a former well-regarded prospect who reached as high as No. 7 in the organizational rankings back in 2023. The Rays had acquired him in a trade with the Texas Rangers after the 2020 season.

After signing Ha-seong Kim last week, the Rays really ran out of opportunity in the infield. In addition to Kim (who is injured), the Rays have Jose Caballero, Taylor Walls, Junior Caminero, Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda as infielders on the 40-man roster. Carson Williams, one of the top prospects in baseball, is also waiting in the wings in the minor leagues.

Basabe is a career .301 hitter in the minor leagues (six seasons) with 19 homers and 80 stolen bases. He has appeared in 31 major league games.

The Rays are coming off a season that saw them finish 80-82 and in fourth place in the American League East. As they get Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen back from injury for a full season, that standing could rise. In addition, Caminero was just named the MVP of the Dominican Winter League and appears primed for the next step in his career.

Spring training begins next week.

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