With the recent long-term extensions given to Konnor Griffin and Kevin McGonigle, it seems appropriate to address whether the Tampa Bay Rays have any current players or prospects who would fit that mold. The team might not have any immediate names that come to mind. Some of these guys aren’t even close to being in the majors. But, with the potentially looming salary cap and this becoming even more trendy, it’s still fun to discuss. So here are the three most likely contract extension candidates for the Rays.
Three Rays Products Most Likely to Get an Eventual Extension
1. Theo Gillen
Theo Gillen was the Rays’ 1st-round pick in 2024. He signed with a $4.3 million signing bonus out of high school. Since then, he has done nothing but rake in the low minors. He has yet to crack a level higher than High-A, but the promise is there. He might not have a solidified position yet, but his bat and emerging power will play anywhere. It’ll likely be a few years before we see any extension talks for Gillen. But, with his production, it might be sooner than some would think. He posted a wRC+ of 151 in Low-A over 73 games last year. The slug wasn’t there, but his OBP sitting at .433 was impressive. It was his first full year in organized ball.
Gillen will still only turn 21 this year and, as mentioned, hasn’t cracked Double-A yet. But that could be soon, and the Rays are an unconventional team. The Milwaukee Brewers have now signed two players to extensions before they’ve played an inning in the majors. Could the Rays do the same with a guy like Gillen?
2. Brody Hopkins
The biggest return from the Randy Arozarena deal has been a big riser in prospect rankings. Brody Hopkins has massive upside with his nasty arsenal. There are even rumors of him making his debut as soon as this season. He certainly has the stuff for it. Hopkins’ cutter has a future grade of 70 according to FanGraphs. His small-sample under-the-hood marks haven’t been great at Triple-A in 2026. However, his four-seamer still sits in the high 90s. His curveball has allowed a .239 xwOBA and a .236 xSLG for the Bulls. So while he’s given up some hard contact and hasn’t gotten the chases or whiffs you’d expect, he’s still got the stuff.
Brody Hopkins slo-mo delivery 👀
Here’s a scouting deep dive on the No. 1 prospect in the Rays system: https://t.co/nDHmayLhG9 pic.twitter.com/GXoyROg7By
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) April 9, 2026
Position players are more commonly offered extensions, but as mentioned, the Rays go against the grain. Perhaps they’ll do so with Hopkins, who’s as blue-chip a pitcher as there is in the Rays’ system. Plus, there are rumors that the team could call him up as a high-leverage bullpen arm.
3. Junior Caminero
Finally, a guy with some major league experience. Junior Caminero is probably the name most folks think of currently with the Rays. And that’s completely fair, as he’s coming off a monster 2025 season. But he’s gotten off to a rough start in 2026. His defense has been brutal, and his offense hasn’t quite been at the level. He was a prime candidate to be the eventual Rays MVP this year. So far, he’s been passed by several other members of the squad.
Junior Caminero puts the first run on the board in Chicago 😎 pic.twitter.com/EgwyNaW8Hv
— MLB (@MLB) April 16, 2026
Still, it’s early, and it’s a long season. Caminero can and most likely will bounce back. But, should the Rays meet his probably astronomical asking price? That’s a tough question to answer; he’s got all the tools to be a dominant hitter. Is it worth investing the type of money it’ll take at this point to lock him in for the foreseeable future? His defense at a non-premium position has been up-and-down. He started last year at a similarly awful pace in that regard. He finished strong and ended up around league-average. So it’s safe to say he’ll likely be an average defensive third baseman. Base running won’t be his thing either; he’s no Chandler Simpson. Caminero’s offense will carry his value.
Which is fine; he’s a good enough hitter for that to be a non-issue. But will it be enough to justify giving him as much money as he’s going to ask for this early in his career? It’s a story to monitor, especially as the new ownership group seeks public funding for a new stadium. Giving the star player a long-term extension could be a big PR boon for a Rays team in need of public support. It’ll be an interesting story to monitor, not only for the rest of this year, but into the off season and up to 2027.
Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
