Taylor Walls

The Tampa Bay Rays exercised their $2.45 million club option for Taylor Walls (sports hernia) for the 2026 season on Thursday. The team also added a new $3.1 million club option for the 2027 season, which would cover his remaining arbitration years. Walls is currently recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Fantasy Impact

Walls, who is a career .195/.286/.298 hitter over parts of five major-league seasons, is regarded as a plus defender. He is expected to be ready for spring training, where he could compete with Carson Williams for the starting shortstop job or settle into a utility infielder role.

The Tampa Bay Rays transferred Taylor Walls to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact

Walls underwent season-ending core muscle surgery in early September. He is expected to be ready for spring training. In a corresponding move, Cole Wilcox has been added to the 40-man roster.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash announced that Taylor Walls will miss the rest of the season after undergoing a sports hernia surgical procedure.

Fantasy Impact

After landing on the injured list with a left groin injury on August 12, Walls began running and doing strengthening exercises. However, he continued to feel mild discomfort and ultimately opted for surgery following a consultation with a specialist. He should be ready for the start of spring training.

Taylor Walls is scheduled to visit a specialist on Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact

Walls has started running and doing strengthening exercises, and his next step is to visit a specialist to evaluate his progress.

Taylor Walls is still feeling injury symptoms when batting right-handed and running.

Fantasy Impact

While Walls has begun hitting and running since landing on the injured list with a left groin strain on August 12, it's not a good sign that he's feeling discomfort. The Rays are expected to know more about his timeline for return over the next 3-5 days.