ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Taylor Walls have reached an agreement to avoid salary arbitration, finalizing a one-year deal worth $1.4 million on Wednesday.

Walls will earn a base salary of $1.35 million for this season. Additionally, the Rays have secured an option for $2.45 million in 2026, which includes a $50,000 buyout clause. Should he achieve 450 plate appearances in 2025, the option price will increase to $2.5 million.

In earlier negotiations prior to this deal, which took place on January 9, Walls had requested a salary increase from $757,300 to $1,575,000, while the Rays countered with an offer of $1.3 million.

Last season, the 28-year-old Walls posted a batting average of .183, hitting one home run, recording 14 runs batted in (RBIs), and successfully stealing 16 bases out of 20 attempts. Across his four seasons in Major League Baseball, all with the Rays, he has compiled a career batting average of .188, with a total of 18 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 52 stolen bases in 62 attempts.

Currently, there are still 13 players scheduled to go through arbitration hearings, which are set to commence on Monday.