Tampa Bay Rays Sign Veteran Outfielder Raimel Tapia to Minor League Contract

After stints with the Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers, Tapia will try to battle his way through the Rays' farm system.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed outfielder Raimel Tapia to a minor league contract, according to the team's transaction log.

Tapia started the 2023 season with the Boston Red Sox, hitting .264 with one home run, 10 RBI, six stolen bases and a .701 OPS in 39 games. The Red Sox, despite signing him to a one-year, $2 million contract in the offseason, designated Tapia for assignment on June 5 and released him six days later.

From there, Tapia signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on June 14. Tapia hit .173 with two home runs, three RBI, two stolen bases and a .555 OPS across 20 games in Milwaukee.

The Brewers designated Tapia for assignment as well on July 22, and he opted to become a free agent rather than heading down to their minor league system.

Tapia had been a near everyday player over the previous three seasons, before he played sparringly for three organizations in 2023 alone.

Although Tapia debuted with the Colorado Rockies in 2016, he did not become a lineup regular until 2019. Tapia played in 322 of Colorado's 383 games from 2019 to 2021, and he hit .282 with 16 home runs, 111 RBI, 37 stolen bases and a .721 OPS in that time.

Tapia went to the Toronto Blue Jays via trade in March 2022, and he hit .265 with seven home runs, 52 RBI, eight stolen bases and a .672 OPS in 128 games that season.

In five of the last six seasons, however, Tapia has posted a negative defensive WAR.

The Rays have gotten consistent production at the plate from their outfielders this season, with Randy Arozarena starting virtually every game in left. Jose Siri, Josh Lowe, Luke Raley and Manuel Margot have split time in the other two outfield positions.

It remains to be seen if Tapia will get the call-up to join that platoon this season, which is shaping up to be a dramatic one for Tampa Bay.

The Rays are 9-17 since July 1, now 2.0 games back of the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East.

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