Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls is not in the lineup for the Rays' Saturday night matchup against right-hander Jacob deGrom and the Rangers. Walls has struggled at the plate this season, going just 2-for-17 (.118) with a stolen base. The 28-year-old switch-hitter started six of the team's seven games this season, entering the other game as a defensive replacement. He'll get Saturday off while Jose Caballero draws the start in his spot. After swiping 44 bags last year, Caballero is a viable streamer or DFS value play if you're chasing stolen bases this Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (quadriceps) is dealing with a minor quad injury. The infielder exited Saturday's contest early due to this injury. However, the team noted that this injury is not considered serious and expects Walls to return to the lineup later this week. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in case he faces a setback. Walls is expected to have a more significant role in the lineup over the first two months with Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) sidelined. He will likely compete alongside Jose Caballero for starting opportunities. Last summer, the 28-year-old appeared in 84 contests for Tampa Bay and posted a .183/.282/.248 line. He swiped 16 bags and drew walks at an elite 12.3 percent rate. However, he generated a weak .184 xBA. Fantasy managers should only target Walls when looking for speed in deeper AL-only formats.

The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Taylor Walls avoided salary arbitration on Wednesday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.35 million deal. The contract includes a $2.45 million option for the 2026 season with a $50,000 buyout. The 28-year-old middle infield will return to Tampa this year to provide infield insurance for the Rays. His glove is the most attractive thing about him, leaving very little fantasy upside for those in deep AL-only leagues in 2025. The former third-round selection in 2017 out of Florida State hit just .183/.282/.248 with a career-worst .529 OPS, one home run, 14 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 27 runs scored in 84 games in his fourth major-league season in 2024. In his four big-league campaigns, Walls has slashed a mere .188/.288/.293 with 18 home runs, 98 RBI and 52 stolen bases in 379 career games. If he's forced into regular playing time, the Rays will be in trouble.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri and infielder Taylor Walls will both start Thursday's game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on the bench. Jonny DeLuca will start in center field and bat eighth for the Rays, with Jose Caballero starting at shortstop and hitting sixth against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. DeLuca is hitless in two career at-bats against Williams, while Caballero is hitless in his only at-bat against Williams. Siri could see more time on the bench moving forward if he can't break out of his recent slump soon. The 29-year-old Dominican is hitting .184 (69-for-374) on the year and is 1-for-24 (.042) with two walks and 11 K's in eight games in September. Walls has played in only 72 games this year due to injuries and is hitting a similarly weak .179/.287/.242 with a homer, 13 RBI and 14 stolen bases.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (hip), who was moved to the 60-day injured list on April 20 after having right-hip surgery in the offseason, began a minor-league rehab assignment with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on May 21 and went 2-for-17 with a homer, two walks and two strikeouts while playing five games at shortstop. He then joined Triple-A Durham on May 30 and went 2-for-6 with two doubles and played all nine innings at the 6. Manager Kevin Cash said that Walls felt "the best he's felt in a long time, so really encouraged by that." Walls said on Feb. 13 that he had been dealing with a "noticeable hip impingement" for more than a year, and it reached the point in the playoffs where he could barely swing a bat. When he's healthy enough to return, Walls will give the Rays another option at shortstop.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (hip) has started a spring training-type progression at the team's spring complex in Port Charlotte, Fla., which will take about two weeks before he starts getting into games. Manager Kevin Cash said the team received a "very good report" from Walls' visit with Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd on April 1. But given the amount of time that Walls has missed, it's likely he'll have to recreate a progression similar to spring training when he returns to game action. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 20 after having surgery on Oct. 27 of last year to fix a labral tear and to relieve discomfort from an impingement in his right hit. It's something that Walls had been dealing with for more than a year. It's unclear what Walls' role will be when he eventually returns to the majors, but it's likely to be a bench role.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (hip) is taking 10 to 14 days off from baseball activities due to hip inflammation. The Rays moved Walls to the 60-day injured list over the weekend while he recovers from surgery on his right hip. There's no clear timetable for his return, with manager Kevin Cash saying on April 13 that Walls is "just not going as quick as maybe we had originally anticipated." Given the amount of time he has missed, it seems likely Walls will have to essentially recreate a progression similar to spring training whenever he gets back to game action. The 27-year-old had surgery on Oct. 27 to fix a labral tear in his right hip. He said he had been dealing with a "noticeable hip impingement" for more than a year. It would probably be a surprise if we saw Walls in the big leagues before June.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (hip) had surgery on Oct. 27 to fix a labral tear and relieve discomfort from an impingement in his right hip that he had been dealing with for more than a year. He spent eight weeks on crutches after the surgery but has since resumed baseball activities, working in the infield and taking swings off a tee. Walls has also been throwing and lifting weights and recently started training his running mechanics to test the range of motion in his hip. The 27-year-old is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but he could be ready two or three weeks into the regular season. Walls' status is of more importance since the Rays are unlikely to have Wander Franco in 2024, and perhaps ever again. The switch-hitting Walls isn't much to look at offensively besides some speed, and prospect Junior Caminero could take over sooner than later at shortstop.

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said it's "unlikely" shortstop Taylor Walls (hip) will be ready for Opening Day after having right-hip surgery this offseason. The Rays don't know what will happen with Wander Franco, who remains under investigation in the Dominican Republic. Jose Caballero, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, can play multiple positions and provides value with his defense, baserunning and willingness to find ways to get on base. Right now, Caballero looks like Tampa's Opening Day shortstop, which will put less pressure on Wall's rehab, young infielder Osleivis Basabe or top prospect Junior Caminero. The 27-year-old has little power to speak of but hit lefties well in 2023 and will be valuable in deeper mixed fantasy leagues for his speed.

The Tampa Bay Rays released a statement on Monday regarding infielder Taylor Walls (hip). It reads: "Taylor Walls underwent a surgical procedure on his right hip to relieve discomfort from an impingement and repair a labral tear. He is expected to return to participating in baseball activities in February. His readiness for Opening Day will be determined later in the rehab process once baseball activity is resumed and an accurate timeline can be established." Walls played in both of the team's wild-card game this year, but he might not be ready to go when the 2024 season kicks off. The 27-year-old hit just .201 (61-for-303) with eight home runs, 36 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 50 runs scored in 99 games in his third MLB season in 2023. When healthy next year, he should return to his role as a utility infielder in Tampa.

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated infielder Taylor Walls from the paternity list on Monday and optioned infield prospect Tristan Gray to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. The Rays also recalled left-hander Jalen Beeks from Durham and optioned right-hander Chris Devenski to Durham in a corresponding move. Walls will continue to provide the Rays with a middle-infield option with Wander Franco unlikely to play until 2024 due to off-the-field issues. The 27-year-old has gone just 6-for-33 (.182) in 11 games (nine starts) in September with a homer, five RBI, 11 strikeouts, two stolen bases and seven runs scored. In his third big-league season, Walls is hitting just .207 (57-for-275) with eight homers, 11 doubles, two triples, 32 RBI, a career-high 22 stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 90 games.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (groin) has missed the past two games as he deals with groin soreness, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The 27-year-old was recently activated from the injured list after he suffered a left oblique strain and missed more than a month of action. Over 81 games this season, Walls owns a .216/.317/.360 slash line with seven homers, 44 runs, 28 RBI, and a career-high 21 stolen bases. Fantasy managers should consider the third-year player day-to-day, but he can be dropped in favor of a waiver wire add in most formats, despite his speed.

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated infielder Taylor Walls (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and right-hander Kevin Kelly (ankle) from the 15-day injured list on Friday. Walls isn't in the team's starting lineup on Friday against the Cleveland Guardians, but he should at least split playing time at the 6 in Tampa with Osleivis Basabe for the rest of the season while Wander Franco remains on administrative leave. The 27-year-old has been on the shelf since late July with a left-oblique strain. For his speed alone (career-high 20 stolen bases), Walls might be worth a deep-mixed league pickup for the final month of the regular season. In 79 games (279 trips to the plate) this year, Walls is hitting .211 (51-for-242) with seven home runs, 27 RBI and 42 runs scored.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (oblique) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. The 27-year-old could be activated as soon as Friday for the start of the team's three-game weekend series in Cleveland with the Guardians. Walls has been on the mend since July 22 due to a left oblique strain, but he seems to be on the cusp of a return. With Wander Franco on administrative leave, Walls has a pathway to an everyday role at shortstop for the Rays down the stretch. The switch-hitter had a ridiculous start to the campaign, but Walls slashed only .164/.278/.212 in his most recent 169 plate appearances since May 17. Still, the prospect of a regular role might be attractive enough for fantasy managers to give the speedy Walls a shot upon activation.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (oblique) has been on the shelf since mid-July after sustaining a left oblique strain. According to manager Kevin Cash, the 27-year-old is still "a ways away" from returning, likely not until the calendar flips to September. Across 79 contests this season, Walls has hit .211 with seven home runs but has swiped a career-high 20 bases. Still, his value is very limited, even in deep formats, and he should be regulated to a bench role with the Rays once he's healthy.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (oblique) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to July 21. It's unclear how the 27-year-old suffered the injury but he'll be out for some time while dealing with an oblique strain, which is always a tricky injury. Walls is slashing .211/.315/.360 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, and 20 stolen bases on the season. Infielder Vidal Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (back) has returned to the starting lineup on Friday against the Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryce Miller, and he is starting at second base and batting eighth in the lineup. Walls had been absent from the lineup for the last three games because of tightness in his back and right lat, but he's feeling better and will be back in there to kick off the weekend. With the 26-year-old returning, Vidal Brujan will head back to the bench. Walls is mainly useful for his speed in deep-mixed leagues, as he's swiped a career-high 16 bags already in 2023. He's hitting a measly .214 (44-for-206) with seven home runs, 10 doubles, two triples, 25 RBI and 36 runs scored in 66 games as a valuable utility infielder for Tampa.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (back) remained out of the team's lineup on Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks after being scratched from Tuesday's lineup with mid-back tightness. However, he was hoping to be available off the bench on Thursday and then back in the lineup on Friday for the series opener against the Seattle Mariners. Walls said imaging done on his back on Tuesday came back "pretty clean." He said he felt some tightness in his lower right lat muscle for the final three or four days of the team's last homestand, and he still felt it Tuesday and opted for treatment and "more precautionary measures." If the 26-year-old isn't able to return this weekend, he'll almost certainly go on the injured list.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (back) will miss Wednesday's game as he deals with back tightness, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 26-year-old is having a career year with the bat, slashing .214/.316/.383 with seven home runs, 36 runs, 25 RBI, and 16 stolen bases across 66 contests. Manager Kevin Cash told reporters to consider Walls day-to-day and fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates. Expect Vidal Brujan to get most of the reps at second while the former third-round pick is out. The 25-year-old has yet to figure out Major League pitching and is batting .227 with no homers over 19 games this season.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls launched a grand slam in Sunday's 8-7 victory over the New York Yankees. He went 3-for-4 and added a stolen base as well. The 26-year-old was having a slow May before this one, hitting just .172 with a .687 OPS in his 10 prior games after a scorching April. Walls may have reopened his fantasy sell-high window with this performance. The former Tampa Bay top prospect had a glaring discrepancy between his SLG (.522) and xSLG (.373) before Sunday's outing. The switch-hitting Walls is decimating left-handers with an unsustainable .840 slugging percentage in 25 at-bats against southpaws, so a platoon role with the lefty-hitting Brandon Lowe might be the ceiling for his role.