Utilityman Ryan Vilade has made the Rays’ Opening Day roster, manager Kevin Cash told reporters, including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 27-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Reds early in the offseason. Vilade could fill in around the infield while shortstop Taylor Walls is sidelined.
Vilade has spent parts of three seasons in the big leagues. He’s stumbled to a .141/.200/.188 in 71 plate appearances. Vilade has shown more promise with the bat in the minors, including a 135 wRC+ in 113 games at Triple-A between the Cardinals and Reds organizations last year.
The main draw for Vilade is his flexibility as a defender. He’s played every position except pitcher and catcher in the minors. Vilade hasn’t played shortstop since 2019, but he appeared at every other infield spot and all three outfield positions at Triple-A this past season.
The Rays sent outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios to minor league camp on Friday. Both players were candidates for a bench role alongside infielder Ben Williamson, outfielder Jonny DeLuca, and backup catcher Hunter Feduccia. Prospect Carson Williams was sent to minor league camp earlier this week, only to be brought back after Walls went down. He’s likely headed toward the majority of the shortstop playing time as Walls recovers from a strained oblique.
Malloy came over in a minor trade with the Tigers after getting designated for assignment in late December. His lack of defensive value made him a peculiar fit for a Tampa Bay roster that typically prioritizes versatility. Malloy kept the strikeouts in check this spring, but he hit just .222 with just two extra-base hits.
Palacios is the more surprising cut. He stole 19 bases while providing league-average production with the bat in 2024. He bounced all over the field, spending most of his time at second base and right field. Palacios got off to a hot start this past season, posting a 138 wRC through mid-April. He then went down with a knee sprain that kept him out until September. The additions of Cedric Mullins and Gavin Lux were suboptimal for the lefty-swinging Palacios, given the platoon tendencies of the Rays.
“Richie, he’s a really good player,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s tough to see a scenario where he’s not helping us at some point, (with) his versatility. Just there wasn’t really a lane for him of the gate, as we are right now, coming out with health.”
On the pitching side, Joe Boyle will join Palacios and Malloy in minor league camp. As has become a theme in his career, the hard-throwing righty had a phenomenal 34.0% strikeout rate this spring, but it came with a 17.0% walk rate. Boyle got up to 74 pitches in his most recent outing, so he was preparing as a starter. Tampa Bay didn’t have an obvious spot in the rotation with free agents Nick Martinez and Steven Matz joining incumbents Drew Rasmussen, Ryan Pepiot, and Shane McClanahan.
Topkin also notes that left-hander Cam Booser was informed he won’t make the big-league squad. He came to Tampa Bay on a minor league deal back in January. Booser’s deal includes an upward mobility clause. If he triggers it, he’ll be offered to the rest of the teams in the league. If another team is willing to give Booser a place on the roster, the Rays will be forced to do the same or work out a trade.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images
