Slater Returns to Rays on Minor Deal | Tampa Bay Rays News

Austin Slater’s Minor League deal with the Tampa Bay Rays is a surprising twist — after opting out for a MLB shot, he’s back with Tampa to wrap up 2026, where he’s been absolutely dominant in Triple-A with a .300+ average and solid power. Despite his big league struggles and versatility (corner OF, even first base), few teams bit on him — but the Rays, already AL leaders after a blockbuster trade deadline haul including Freddy Peralta, are clearly winning with moves that’re paying off: Peralta’s stats have jumped since joining Tampa, proving sometimes a fresh start is all you need. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/765de85b64cf034f