The Tampa Bay Rays went into the MLB trade deadline as buyers, but their perspective is changing due to their struggles.

The trade deadline season is just above the horizon, and the stove is starting to heat up as the Rays issued a trade to the Kansas City Royals. The Tampa Bay Rays have sent right-handed pitcher Joey Krehbiel to the Royals in exchange for cash considerations.

But as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, that seems like the much more likely outcome. In the past month, the Red Sox have gotten scorching hot and the Rays have fallen all the way down to 53-52, right on the border of "sell" territory.

If they weren't before, the Cincinnati Reds are now officially rolling. The Reds ascended to a new high-water mark in 2025 − six games over .500 − as they completed a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays with a 2-1 win on July 27 at Great American Ball Park. It was also four consecutive wins for Cincinnati.

C HICAGO –– With the MLB trade deadline approaching on Thursday, the White Sox made a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. Minor league infielder Tristan Gray is headed to Tampa in exchange for cash considerations, the White Sox announced.

With their infield depleted by injuries, the Rays turned to a familiar face to upgrade their depth on Saturday. Tampa Bay acquired infielder Tristan Gray from the White Sox for cash considerations and added him to the active roster in Cincinnati.

With the Tampa Bay Rays slowly drifting out of the playoff race, the team reportedly could move on from two key players ahead of the trade deadline.

The Tampa Bay Rays are struggling, and if they sell at the deadline, the Boston Red Sox seem like an ideal fit for Yandy Diaz, ESPN's Buster Olney says.

The direction the team will go and how much it will do still seem to be in play as Thursday’s deadline approaches.