DETROIT: Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after a ninth inning strike out to beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 at Comerica Park on August 24, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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In his second appearance with the Rays after being acquired at the trade deadline, Tyler Wells was the third pitcher to take the mound for manager Kevin Cash during a bullpen day in Seattle. The 6-foot-8 righthander began a two-inning stint in the third, which ended when Randy Arozarena lined out to center fielder Cedric Mullins. It was a sight familiar was all too familiar with.
“‘Ced’ made a phenomenal catch and I came up behind him and gave him hug,” he said. “I was like, ‘It’s great to have you back.’ It was kind of like old times.”
Wells and Mullins were teammates in Baltimore for three-plus seasons, including 2023 when the Orioles won the American League East crown. The club was managed by Brandon Hyde and had a roster that also included Bryan Baker and Jorge Mateo. All five are currently employed by the Rays.
Baker was the first to arrive when he was acquired for a draft pick at the 2025 trade deadline. Hyde was hired last December and serves as a senior advisor to the operations department. Mullins was signed six days after his former manager was brought on board, and Mateo was signed August 13 less than a week after being cut loose by the Braves.
“It’s pretty crazy that we’ve all ended up in this spot and we get to have another crack at making a postseason run and a winning a division here with this team,” said Baker, whose 39 saves (through September 6) lead the majors.
While it is unique to have a quartet of players who were recently teammates with another club, what makes it work is who they are. Each of them knows what it is like to win because they share the same goals and work in a manner that is in the best interests of the team, including in the clubhouse. In other words, fitting in with the Rays was a never a question.
“Bake, Wells, Mateo, they are all hardworking guys ready to get after it every single day,” said Mullins, who played his first 784 games with Baltimore before he was traded at last year’s deadline to the Mets. “They’re ready to win, so they fit the bill of this team very well. They are super guys who are easy to talk to, easy to get along with.”
Wells was acquired by the Orioles from Minnesota in the 2020 Rule 5 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2022 and appeared in 142 games with Baltimore at the time of the trade to Tampa Bay. He noted that his wife, Melissa, who has family members a few hours north of the bay area in Jacksonville, had a feeling something might be up at the deadline. She was right, Wells’ surprise did not necessarily come from being dealt, but the team he was dealt to.
“Given the circumstances, I was a little bit more surprised at the in-division side of it,” he said of being traded (for pitching prospect Michael Forret) to another AL East opponent. “I think that there were a lot of in-division trades at this year’s deadline, but realistically for me, it was more of a surprise based on where the Orioles were (in the standings).”
The 6-foot-8 Wells missed most of the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to an elbow injury that required surgery. He has flourished this season in recording 2.44 ERA and 0.90 WHIP between the two clubs. Though he may have been surprised at the team he was traded to, it was a most pleasant surprise given how the Rays have long worked so effectively with pitchers.
“I am very fortunate to be here,” he said. “I was very excited because of the history of this organization as far as pitching development and kind of their way of thinking. It has something that I’ve admired from afar.”
Mateo, who played 408 games in all or part of five seasons (2021-2025) with Baltimore, was the last one through the Rays’ clubhouse door to join the reunion. He joined a first-place Tampa Bay team seeking to win its fifth division title.
“This is the second time we are going for a division title together,” he said of his fellow former O’s. “They are great guys and we were together for a long time. Now, we’re back together and we are happy and excited to be here to help the (Rays) win.”
They sure are.
“It’s been really fun so far,” said Baker. “I think having a little bit of experience in that capacity (in 2023) will help us a little bit. Getting to go through it again with some of my Baltimore buddies will be fun.”
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