Gray signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Friday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
It's the first transaction made by new president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. The former Rays executive is familiar with Gray from his time in Tampa Bay, where the 27-year-old went 2-for-5 with a home run during a short stint in the majors. Gray has hit 30-plus home runs each of the last two seasons at the Triple-A level while also striking out at a 31.7 percent rate. He'll presumably receive an invitation to major-league spring training.
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Tristan Gray: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Gray elected to become a free agent Monday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Gray will test out free agency rather than accept the Rays' outright assignment. The 27-year-old got his first cup of coffee in the majors in 2023, going 2-for-5 with a home run. He's slugged 30-plus home runs each of the last two seasons at the Triple-A level, although that's also come with a 31.7 percent strikeout rate.
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Rays' Tristan Gray: Thriving with spring opportunity
Rotowire
Gray, who singled, was hit by a pitch and scored in his two plate appearances during a Grapefruit League loss to the Red Sox on Friday, is 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs across three spring games.
The 24-year-old showed some nice pop at the High-A and Double-A levels in 2018 and 2019, respectively, racking up 91 extra-base hits (54 doubles, seven triples, 30 home runs) and driving in 133 runs over that span. Gray's batting averages at both stops -- .238 in the former and .225 in the latter -- have been lacking, but he's profiled well during spring training stops with the Rays the last three seasons, lacing four (two doubles, two home runs) of his five hits for extra bases in that sample. Gray is likely ticketed to start the season at Triple-A Durham, and the foundation he's establishing with his early spring work could serve as a launchpad to a successful 2021.
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Rays' Tristan Gray: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Gray was reassigned to minor-league spring training Sunday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
As part of the first wave of cuts, Gray, along with six others, was removed from the Rays' spring training roster Sunday. The 23-year-old second baseman posted a .225/.332/.409 slash line with 64 RBI and and 17 home runs across 112 games with Double-A Montgomery in 2019.
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Rays' Tristan Gray: Shipped to Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Gray was traded to the Rays on Thursday.
The young infielder was part of a package that included Daniel Hudson and cash considerations that helped to bring outfielder Corey Dickerson to the Pirates. Gray spent all of last season with Low-A West Virginia, producing an .815 OPS and a 32:19 K:BB in 208 at-bats. He'll head to the lower levels of the Rays' system for more development.
