Rays Expand Roles for Jose Caballero and Richie Palacios in Center Field

The Tampa Bay Rays, known for their emphasis on defensive versatility, are expanding the roles of utility players Jose Caballero and Richie Palacios this spring. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Caballero, who excelled at shortstop, second base, and third base in 2024, is now getting reps across all three outfield spots in camp. Last season, he played two innings in left field. Meanwhile, Palacios, who already played five positions last year, is also getting reps in center field. Topkin notes that Palacios is the leading candidate to back up presumptive starter Jonny DeLuca.
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Caballero, 28, joined the Rays in a January 2024 trade that sent Luke Raley to the Mariners. While his offensive stats are modest, with a .225/.308/.338 slash line in 243 MLB games, Caballero's defense has been a significant asset. He accumulated 70 steals in 89 attempts over a season and a half's worth of games. With the addition of Ha-Seong Kim and the return of Taylor Walls, Caballero will transition into a jack-of-all-trades utility role this season. This flexibility allows the Rays to maximize their roster's potential and maintain their competitive edge.