The Tampa Bay Rays declined outfielder Kevin Kiermaier's $13 million option for the 2023 season on Thursday, making him a free agent. Kiermaier underwent season-ending hip surgery in August. The 32-year-old center fielder only managed to play in 63 games in 2022 and hit an underwhelming .228/.281/.369 with seven home runs, 22 RBI, 28 runs scored and six stolen bases in his 206 at-bats. He inked a six-year, $50 million extension with Tampa before the 2017 season, but he hasn't lived up to that contract and has dealt with injuries along the way as well. Before any team decides to take a chance on him in free agency, they might want to see how his recovery from hip surgery is going, so it might be a while before we see Kiermaier land on his feet.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) had successful left hip surgery last Wednesday and is feeling great. "I will be back on that field next year better than ever," Kiermaier said. He's expected to return to full activity in six to seven months, so he should be ready to start the 2023 season on time or shortly thereafter. The 32-year-old is in the last guaranteed year of a six-year, $53.5 million deal that he signed in March of 2017, with the Rays expected to give him the $2.5 million buyout rather than exercise his $13 million option. Tampa recently traded for center fielder Jose Siri, so there's a good chance Kiermaier could be playing elsewhere in 2023. Kiermaier hit just .228 with seven home runs, 22 RBI and a .650 OPS in 63 games before his injury this year.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) is set to undergo season-ending hip labrum surgery, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 32-year-old will be a big loss for the Rays on both sides of the game. Over 63 appearances this season, Kiermaier slashed .228/.281/.369 with seven home runs, six stolen bases, 22 RBI and 28 runs. Roman Quinn and Brett Phillips have been the team's primary center fielders lately with Kiermaier on the sidelines and that should continue to be the trend going forward.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) was removed early during Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. This is a shame because Kiermaier just got off the injured list. Now, it sounds like the veteran outfielder is headed right back on the shelf. Brett Phillips came into the game on Saturday, so he could see more time in the outfield. Fantasy managers will have to wait and see what the Rays decide to do with Kiermaier. He could very well land on the injured list again, but hasn't been doing much with the bat this season anyway.

The Tampa Bay Rays activated outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (hip) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned outfielder Luke Raley and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to Triple-A Durham in corresponding moves. The team also recalled right-hander David McKay from the taxi squad. Kiermaier landed on the IL on June 20 with left hip inflammation, but he wasn't out for long and is back in center field and batting fifth on Friday against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios. The 32-year-old veteran should see regular playing time in center field moving forward, and he's hitting just .229/.270/.380 with seven home runs, 17 RBI, 26 runs scored and five stolen bases in 189 plate appearances and 56 games for the Rays so far in 2022.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielders Manuel Margot and Kevin Kiermaier (Achilles) are not in the starting lineup on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. Margot will get a normal day off in the series opener. The 27-year-old has been hot all year and is slashing .310/.373/.435 with an .807 OPS, three home runs, 24 RBI, 20 runs scored and five stolen bases in 185 plate appearances. Kiermaier hasn't played since being pulled from Wednesday's game with left Achilles inflammation. Kiermaier has seven long balls and five steals on the year, but it has come with a weak .225 average and .264 on-base percentage. Harold Ramirez is in right field and hitting fifth, while Brett Phillips is in center field and is batting sixth on Friday against Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (Achilles) is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the New York Yankees. Kiermaier left the contest early on Wednesday with left Achilles inflammation, so it shouldn't be a huge surprise that he's resting the day after. It remains to be seen how much time he'll miss, but fantasy managers should consider the 32-year-old day-to-day for now. Brett Phillips will get the nod in center field on Thursday and is hitting sixth against Yankees right-hander Luis Severino. Phillips is really struggling this year. He's gone just 2-for-29 (.069) in June with 14 strikeouts to drop his season line to .171/.237/.301 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 137 plate appearances.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's game against left-hander Nestor Cortes and the New York Yankees. Yandy Diaz will be leading off while Manuel Margot will be patrolling center field. Kiermaier has been red hot at the plate lately. Over his last six games, he's tallied three home runs, six RBI and seven runs. We should see Kiermaier sitting against lefties rather often, especially with Margot back in action. Kiermaier has a career .662 OPS against southpaws, compared to a career .743 OPS against righties.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (knee) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He fouled a ball off his knee during Saturday's contest. It sounds like Kiermaier is feeling better, but remains out of the lineup as a precaution. Fantasy managers should consider Kiermaier day-to-day, so hopefully he can return soon.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is on the bench for Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics and right-handed starter Frankie Montas. Kiermaier is hitting .193 with a .258 on-base percentage and a pair of home runs in 62 plate appearances so far this season. Instead, it'll be Brett Phillips starting in center field and batting ninth against Oakland. Phillips is batting .200 with a .256 on-base percentage, two home runs, and three stolen bases in 43 plate appearances this season. He has one hit in five career plate appearances against Montas, but that hit was a home run.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (groin) is feeling better and will take some swings on Tuesday. He believes that he'll still be ready for Opening Day. Along with left groin soreness, Kiermaier has also dealt with neck and upper-back stiffness in camp. The 31-year-old oft-injured outfielder still has time to get ready, but he'll need to get back into some Grapefruit League games soon. In 122 games (390 plate appearances) in 2021, Kiermaier slashed .259/.328/.388 with four home runs, 37 RBI, 54 runs scored and nine stolen bases for the Rays. He's only had more than 50 RBI in a season once, doesn't have a ton of power and no longer is a real threat to steal double-digit bases, putting him just inside RotoBaller's top 150 fantasy outfielders.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (groin) was scratched from the spring game on Friday due to left groin soreness. Josh Lowe will now start in center field in the Grapefruit League game. Injuries have been an issue for Kiermaier this spring, as he's also dealt with some neck and back stiffness, so it's something to watch with Opening Day quickly approaching in a few weeks. After posting double-digit stolen bases from 2015-19, Kiermaier only stole nine bases in 122 games in 2021, and he's only played more than 129 games in his nine-year career once (back in 2015). The 31-year-old is more of a defensive player at this point in his career after hitting .259/.328/.388 with four homers, 37 RBI and 54 runs scored in 390 plate appearances last year.

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (knee) is a prime candidate to be traded once the lockout comes to an end, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Topkin reports that Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander told Kiermaier prior to the lockout that other teams had expressed interest in trading for the perennial gold glover. Kiermaier, who underwent knee surgery in November, slashed .259/.328/.388 with four homers and nine steals in 122 games in 2021. With plenty of depth on the 40-man roster, the Rays may very well look to offload his $14.5 million dollars in remaining guaranteed money.

The New York Yankees have expressed some interest in trading for Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, although the talks haven't been in advanced stages. Kiermaier, who is an excellent defensive center fielder, is owed $12 million in the 2022 season. The 31-year-old also has a $13 million club option with a $2.5 million buyout for the 2023 campaign. Kiermaier is expendable with the Rays having two low-cost center field options in Manuel Margot and Brett Phillips. While Kiermaier's glove is attractive, he's been a league-average hitter and has played more than 129 games in a season just once in his nine-year career. He finished 2021 with a .259/.328/.388 slash line, a .716 OPS, four home runs, 37 RBI, nine stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 390 plate appearances over 122 games played.

The Philadelphia Phillies have had trade discussions with the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, according to two leagues sources, and the fit is a logical one. If Kiermaier were traded, the Rays could slide Manuel Margot to center field. Kiermaier is scheduled to make $12 million next season, and he would count for an $8.9 million average annual value for luxury tax purposes. He turns 32 next April, and while he doesn't hit for much power, he remains an elite defender in center field. The Athletic's Matt Gelb lists the A's Ramon Laureano, Arizona's Ketel Marte, Baltimore's Cedric Mullins and Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds as other potential trade options as the Phillies look to address their center field need this offseason.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (knee) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to address a slight meniscus tear. He will be able to resume baseball activities within the next 4-to-6 weeks. The 31-year-old is expected to be fully healthy by the time Spring Training begins. He slashed .259/.328/.388 with four home runs, 37 RBI, 54 runs scored, and nine stolen bases over 122 games in 2021. When healthy, Kiermaier is more of an option in deep-league formats and is expected to be a part-time role for the Rays in 2022.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI in Game 4 of the American League Division Series 6-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He smoked a ball into right-center-field in the top of the eighth inning to reduce the Rays lead 5-4. The 31-year-old hit .214 (3-for-14) with an RBI and a .741 OPS over four games in the ALDS. Kiermaier posted a .716 OPS with nine stolen in 2021 and is a flier in deep-league formats for fantasy managers searching for speed.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier went 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, three RBI, and a walk in Friday's 8-0 win over the Miami Marlins. He was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. The 31-year-old collected three hits in Friday's win and has now logged multi-hit efforts in two of his last four games. Kiermaier is slashing .255/.321/.381 with four home runs, 36 RBI, 53 runs scored, and nine stolen bases over 371 plate appearances in 2021. The Rays outfielder is hitting .462 (6-for-13) over his last four games, and fantasy managers can use Kiermaier as a streamer for the final stretch while he's wielding a hot bat.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Saturday. He experienced general illness/symptoms and was placed on the COVID-19 injured list. It's unclear if he tested positive or came into close contact, but he could be out up to 10 days. The 31-year-old slashed .247/.310/.369 with four home runs, 33 RBI, and eight stolen bases over 110 games in 2021. Fantasy managers can move on from Kiermaier if they him rostered. Right-hander Joey Krehbiel was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Monday's 9-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays tied a season-high record in home runs in a game with five long balls in Monday's win. He launched a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Rays a 3-1 lead. The 31-year-old is starting to heat up and is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with two home runs, four RBI, and a stolen base over his last four games. Overall, Kiermaier is slashing .242/.305/.355 with four home runs, 28 RBI, 36 runs scored, and eight stolen bases over 282 plate appearances in 2021. The Rays outfielder plays semi-regularly and is a speculative add in deep-league formats.