The Rays and Yandy Díaz have labored out a mini extension of types. The membership introduced that it has preemptively picked up his 2026 membership possibility, which is valued at $12MM, whereas including a membership/vesting possibility for 2027. Díaz, an ACES shopper, would reportedly vest the ’27 provision at $13MM if he reaches 500 plate appearances in 2026. If he doesn’t hit that vesting threshold, it could be a $10MM workforce possibility with no buyout.
Again in January of 2023, the Rays and Díaz agreed to a three-year, $24MM extension with a membership possibility for 2026. He had simply had his first arbitration season in 2022 and he was set to undergo the method twice extra. That deal purchased out these two closing arb years and one free agent 12 months, whereas the choice gave the Rays the prospect to increase their window of management with Díaz by one more season. He made $6MM in 2023, $8MM final 12 months and might be making $10MM this 12 months. The 2026 membership possibility was set at $12MM with no buyout.
Over the course of the deal, Díaz has continued to hit, although the primary 12 months was much better than the second. In 2023, he hit 22 residence runs and slashed .330/.410/.522 for a wRC+ of 163. His .367 batting common on balls in play was serving to him out a bit, however he drew walks at a ten.8% clip and solely struck out 15.7% of the time. Final 12 months, his stroll charge fell to eight.1% and he solely hit 14 homers. His BABIP normalized considerably to .314. The consequence was a .281/.341/.414 line and 120 wRC+. His defensive grades at first base additionally slid a bit. FanGraphs thought-about him to be price 5.0 wins above substitute in 2023 however simply 1.9 fWAR final 12 months.
With out particulars on the 2027 possibility, it’s tough to evaluate what the trade-off is right here. Díaz is now 33 years previous and can flip 34 in August. The Rays may have waited to see how he carried out in 2025 earlier than selecting up the 2026 possibility. By locking it in now, they’re getting a possible membership possibility for the next season at an analogous wage.
Díaz is maybe sacrificing a little bit of future incomes energy, however the trade-off for doing so is that he’s guaranteeing himself one other $12MM right this moment. That will defend him towards an extra decline in efficiency throughout the 2025 season. Underneath his earlier contract construction, a foul 2025 marketing campaign would have led to his possibility being declined and him heading to free company with no buyout. Now he has the $12MM already locked in.
Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Instances first reported the information and the contract phrases.
