Taylor Walls and the Tampa Bay Rays have finalized a one-year contract worth $1.4 million, successfully avoiding arbitration. The agreement includes a base salary of $1.35 million for the current season and a $2.45 million option for 2026, which could increase to $2.5 million if Walls garners 450 plate appearances in 2025. Initially, Walls sought a raise to $1.575 million while the Rays countered with an offer of $1.3 million. Last season, Walls, 28, struggled offensively, hitting .183 with one home run and 14 RBIs, though he managed to steal 16 bases. Over his four-year career with the Rays, he has a .188 batting average, accumulating 18 home runs and 98 RBIs.

The Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Taylor Walls have reached an impasse in salary negotiations, leading to an arbitration hearing as the deadline looms. Walls submitted a salary request of $1.575 million, while the Rays countered with an offer of $1.3 million, aligning closely with pre-offseason projections.

Despite struggling offensively, Walls cites his defensive prowess as a key reason for the higher salary request. With a solid defensive record, including a 1.4 WAR and a defensive WAR of 1.7 in 2024, his value as a defense-first player is evident. As a Gold Glove finalist in 2023, he has accumulated significant defensive runs saved throughout his career.