ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an agreement with veteran infielder Jorge Mateo, a 31-year-old utility man who will step into the role vacated by Ben Williamson’s right hamstring strain, a source confirmed to MLB.com.
The deal, which is not expected to become official until Thursday, comes after Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Williamson is “going to miss some significant time.” With only seven weeks left in the regular season, Williamson could be sidelined the rest of the way. The agreement was first reported by Francys Romero.
Mateo replaces former top prospect Carson Williams, 23, who was called up when Williamson went down but has hit just .108 with a .370 OPS in 16 games for Tampa Bay this season. The Braves released Mateo on Sunday after designating him for assignment last week, meaning the Rays are only responsible for paying him a prorated portion of the league-minimum salary.
A career .223/.268/.365 hitter across 555 games and parts of seven Major League seasons, Mateo brings 34 home runs, 132 RBIs and 116 stolen bases to a Rays lineup that thrives on small ball. His best season came in 2022 with Baltimore, when he stole 35 bases, hit 13 homers and totaled 3.7 Wins Above Replacement.
Most of Mateo’s experience came with the Orioles from 2021-25, giving him plenty of familiar faces in the Tampa Bay clubhouse — former Orioles Cedric Mullins, Bryan Baker and Tyler Wells, along with senior advisor Brandon Hyde, his former manager in Baltimore. The Braves signed Mateo in January and used him primarily at shortstop while Ha-Seong Kim was injured.
Mateo is expected to handle the same responsibilities Williamson carried — starting at second base against left-handed pitchers, spelling Taylor Walls at shortstop and platooning at second with Richie Palacios. He has also logged time at third base and all three outfield spots during his career. The club is expected to make the signing official Thursday.