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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Chris Thompson

Rays Week

Rays Swept By Lowly Reds

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Tom Ley

RAYS WEEK

It’s Rays Week

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Samer Kalaf

A detail of the Tampa Bay Rays pride burst logo celebrating Pride Month during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field on June 04, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida.

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Rays Pitcher Who Didn’t Wear Pride Patch Hides Behind Jesus

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Lauren Theisen

A view of the scoreboard after the ninth inning with zero Red Sox hits

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The Rays Almost Broke The Concept Of A No-Hitter

<a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein">Craig Goldstein</a> is the editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus and the co-host of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/">the Five &amp; Dive podcast</a>.

Craig Goldstein

An image of Rob Manfred, blessedly altered to obscure his face.

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Artificial Scarcity Is Baseball’s Present, And Our Future

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Ray Ratto

Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg greets baseball fans as they arrive for the first game of the season on Opening Day before the start of a game between the Rays and the New York Yankees on April 2, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

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The Rays’ Montreal Gambit Is Dead

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 07: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays steals home against Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning during Game 1 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 07, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Division Series – Boston Red Sox v Tampa Bay Rays – Game One

You Will Know The Rays

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 22: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 to clinch a playoff berth at Tropicana Field on September 22, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Toronto Blue Jays v Tampa Bay Rays

A Well-Timed Tampontreal Gambit Leaves Everyone Pissed

Ryan Borucki chirps at Kevin Kiermaier after plunking him in the back.

Reports Of Agua Passing Under The Bridge Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Kevin Kiermaier looks at a card after sliding into home

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The Blue Jays And Rays Had A Great Beef Going And Then Cruelly Squelched It

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Wander Franco Is Streaking

Colorado Rockies v San Diego Padres

There’s No Such Thing As The “Rays Model”

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game Six of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

World Series – Tampa Bay Rays v Los Angeles Dodgers  – Game Six

The Rays Can’t Help Themselves

Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he is being taken out of the game

The Rays, Who Had The 28th-Highest Payroll Last Year, Are Reportedly Looking To Dump Salary

Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated by pitching coach Kyle Snyder and third base coach Rodney Linares after being taken out of the game

Blake Snell Made Everybody Look Foolish, Especially His Manager

Investigations Editor. You can reach her at diana@defector.com or, if you prefer protonmail, dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. If security is a concern, download the Signal app and send her a text at 929-251-8187.

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Diana Moskovitz

Justin Turner of the Dodgers sits for team photo after testing positive for coronavirus midgame

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Justin Turner Tests Positive For COVID-19, Gets Pulled Midgame, Rejoins And Hugs Dodgers After World Series Win

Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Five

Defector Up All Night

Can The Dodgers Pull This Off? It’s Our Game 6 Open Thread

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Barry Petchesky

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 25: Manuel Margot #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays is tagged out by Austin Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on an attempt to steal home during the fourth inning in Game Five of the 2020 MLB World Series at Globe Life Field on October 25, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Fuck It, Steal Home

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays slides into home plate during the ninth inning to score the game winning run to give his team the 8-7 victory as Kevin Kiermaier celebrates against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Four of the 2020 MLB World Series

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Four

Game 4’s Gloriously Insane Ending Is Just What This World Series Needed

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v Tampa Bay Rays – Game Three

The World Series Is Running Out Of Time To Get Weird

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Let Goofus And Gallant Teach You How To Catch A Baseball At The World Series

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David Roth

Mike Zunino congratulates Peter Fairbanks, one of the Rays' 23 excellent relievers.

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