The Rays' roster overhaul from this past offseason saw some fan favorites like Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum move on to different organizations. Some have thrived in their new environments and others have not. We're going to focus on the former Rays that are currently struggling with their new teams. This isn't for the purpose of bashing our former players, but rather to show that they might truly belong in Tampa Bay.
1. Josh Lowe
The departure of Josh Lowe was possibly the most surprising one from this offseason as it came suddenly with no warning. The Rays' outfield was one of the worst positions offensively for this club a season ago, so it definitely seemed right to keep their trusted right fielder. However, an early injury in 2025, Lowe was clearly off for the remainder of the season, finishing with a .220 AVG and only 11 home runs. Also, the price was right to acquire their Brandon Lowe replacement as Josh Lowe became part of the 3-team trade that gave the Rays their newest second baseman, Gavin Lux.
Maybe the Rays dodged a bullet after all with this deal as Josh Lowe is off to a horrendous start with the Angels. He is currently hitting .156 with three home runs through his first 64 at-bats. We wish our former outfielder the best, but it's not looking good out of the gates.
2. Pete Fairbanks
The Rays lost their beloved closer to the Marlins via free agency. This one was expected as the price for a talented 9th inning man like him was growing. Fairbanks signed with the Marlins on a one-year, $13 million contract and it seems like they may be regretting it at the moment.
After an elite seven seasons with the Rays that ended with a sub-3.00 ERA and 90 saves, Pete Fairbanks is struggling mightily with Miami. Through his first nine appearances, he is 0-1 with a terrible 7.27 ERA. The lone bright spot is his five saves and the fact that the Marlins are currently second in the disappointing NL East. Hopefully, he can turn it around and become the closer the Marlins expected when they signed him out of free agency.
3. Zack Littell
Zack Littell was a Rays' project as they changed him from an average-at-best reliever to a reliable starter. Through three seasons with the Rays, Littell produced a 6.3 WAR which was almost a 5 WAR greater that what he accrued from all of his other organizations combined. Therefore, his career may have been best suited with the team that formed him.
It definitely seems that way as Littell is off to the worst start of his career. The most eye-popping stat is his 11 home runs given up through five starts. He's also naturally 0-3 with a 7.56 ERA as the Nationals continue to struggle with their pitching staff. It might not be Littell, but rather the Washington coaching staff?