Richie Palacios DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays have activated infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios (finger) off the 10-day injured list prior to their contest against the New York Yankees on Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Rays optioned infielder Coco Montes to Triple-A Durham. The 27-year-old hit the injured list at the start of the campaign due to a fractured finger. Fantasy managers should expect Palacios to see most of his time in the outfield, as Brandon Lowe is the everyday second baseman in Tampa Bay. Last summer, Palacios appeared in 92 games in Tampa Bay and held a .223/.346/.318 slash line with eight doubles and five long balls. He swiped 19 bags and held a 67:45 K:BB. Under the hood, he generated a modest .325 xwOBA. Fantasy managers looking for speed in deeper formats should consider adding Palacios.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios (finger), who is rehabbing from a fractured right ring finger, is still waiting for his full grip strength to return. The extended down time means Palacios will likely need more time to build back up, which will make for a longer injured-list stint that the team initially expected. Palacios went on the 10-day IL back on March 24 and was expected to return in early to mid-April. The 27-year-old fractured his finger in spring training and might not be able to make his 2025 season debut for the Rays until May. Eventually, he'll need to go on an extended minor-league rehab assignment. With Josh Lowe (oblique) currently on the injured list, it has opened up consistent playing time in right field in Tampa for youngsters Kameron Misner and Jake Mangum.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios (finger) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Earlier in camp, Palacios was diagnosed with a small fracture in his right ring finger. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as Palacios was likely going to have a utility role in the starting lineup. Last season, the 27-year-old posted a .223/.346/.318 slash line with five home runs and 19 stolen bases across 92 contests. He generated a modest .325 xwOBA with a .249 xBA. Palacios also drew walks at an elite 14.2 percent walk rate. Last summer, Palacios only entered the starting lineup against right-handed pitching and logged 37 starts at the keystone, two at the hot corner, one at shortstop, and 51 in the outfield. While he is sidelined, Jose Caballero and Taylor Walls will have an increased role in the infield, and Kameron Misner could have a larger role in the outfield.

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated outfielder Richie Palacios (knee) from the 10-day injured list on Monday and optioned infielder Austin Shenton to the spring training complex in a corresponding move. Palacios will return for the final week of the 2024 regular season after being out since the middle of August due to a sprained right knee. The 27-year-old played in five games on a minor-league rehab assignment and could return to the team's starting lineup for Tuesday's series opener versus the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Palacios has mainly been useful in AL-only leagues for his speed in his first year in Tampa and third year in the big leagues. Before his knee injury in a career-high 88 games played, Palacios hit .233/.350/.332 with a below-average .682 OPS, only five home runs, 21 RBI and a career-high 19 stolen bases in 301 trips to the plate.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Richie Palacios (knee) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and could return from the 10-day injured list next week. Palacios has been out since July 31 due to a right-knee sprain and is trying to rejoin the big-league roster right before the end of the regular season. The 27-year-old will be a non-factor the rest of the way in fantasy as outfield depth in Tampa. The former third-rounder of the Cleveland Guardians in 2018 out of Towson University is in his first year with Tampa and has hit .233/.350/.332 with a below-average .682 OPS, five home runs, a career-high 21 RBI and a career-high 19 stolen bases in 301 plate appearances over 88 games for the Rays. Palacio's speed is what makes him attractive as outfield depth in deep-mixed and AL-only fantasy formats.