Why Rays might trade away their 3.10 ERA All-Star ace this offseason

The Tampa Bay Rays are sitting atop the American League with only a few weeks to go in the 2026 regular season. This club might be in for a deep playoff run as well.

But after the season comes to a close, the Rays are going to be tasked with some tough decisions to make. One of the biggest issues they'll need to resolve involves two pitchers in the starting rotation, both of whom are heading into the last year of their deals.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand highlighted one of those pitchers, All-Star ace Shane McClanahan , as a potential trade option thanks to his injury history, his cheaper 2027 contract, and his looming free agency after the 2027 season.

Why Shane McClanahan could be traded by Rays this offseason

"McClanahan has pitched well this season after missing two years following Tommy John surgery, but he's entering his final year of arbitration prior to becoming a free agent, a time when Tampa Bay has typically looked to move players," Feinsand writes.

With McClanahan set to hit the open market soon, the Rays could look to trade their ace, getting back some valuable long-term assets as opposed to keeping McClanahan for the remainder of his deal and risk losing him in free agency for nothing.

The injury history of McClanahan might make a trade a little bit more challenging to pull off, but the injuries have likely lowered his 2027 salary to a more reasonable amount.

McClanahan was once a top pitcher in baseball before these recent injuries derailed his career. He has a 3.10 ERA for his big league career, including a 3.36 ERA during the 2026 season across 24 starts.

There is some risk for a team acquiring McClanahan, especially if the Rays demand a massive package in return for him this offseason if they trade him.

But the upside of the former Cy Young candidate might be too good for some of the top contenders eyeing pitching upgrades around baseball, like the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves , to pass up.

The one thing that could hold the Rays back from trading McClanahan is if they decide instead to trade Drew Rasmussen , whose $20 million contract could lead the Rays to move on from him next season.

McClanahan is a name Rays fans should keep an eye on this upcoming offseason, as the trade rumors surrounding the left-handed ace could very well come to fruition.