PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have decided to exercise their $12 million team option on Yandy Díaz for the 2026 season. The announcement came on Friday, as the Rays also revealed the inclusion of a vesting option for 2027, contingent upon meeting certain performance thresholds during the 2026 season.
In the most recent season, Díaz put up impressive statistics, hitting .281 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs across 145 games. His on-base percentage stood at .341. The 33-year-old first baseman had previously achieved on-base percentages of .410 in 2023 and .401 in 2022, highlighting his consistency at the plate.
Díaz distinguished himself in 2023 by leading the American League with a .330 batting average and securing a sixth-place finish in the AL MVP voting. That same year, he recorded 22 home runs and contributed 78 RBIs, solidifying his role as a key player in the Rays’ lineup.
Over the course of his career, Díaz has maintained a batting average of .288 and an on-base percentage of .373, along with 75 home runs and 341 RBIs through 754 games. Prior to joining the Rays in 2019, he spent two years with Cleveland, from 2017 to 2018. This option reflects the Rays’ confidence in Díaz’s abilities and potential to continue making significant contributions to the team in the years to come.
