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The Cuban infielder Raynel Delgado was transferred from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Houston Astros in exchange for cash, as confirmed by journalist Francys Romero.
The transaction was recorded in the official records of the Major League Baseball, which describes it as a trade of second baseman Raynel Delgado to Houston for cash.
Delgado, 26 years old, was playing with the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rays, where he recorded an average of .250 with 18 extra-base hits in the current season.
The player, born in Havana on April 4, 2000, is a utility player capable of covering multiple positions in the infield, primarily second and third base, a versatility that has been his main calling card throughout his career in the Minor Leagues.
According to Romero, Delgado "could be promoted to the Major Leagues soon," which suggests that the Astros see him as a short-term reinforcement option and not just as depth in the minor league system.
This transfer represents the fourth Major League organization for the Cuban player, who was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the sixth round of the 2018 Draft. Since then, he has gone through the Cleveland system, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Rays before arriving in Houston.
With Milwaukee, he had his best season in 2025, when he batted .281 with 116 hits, 53 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases with the Nashville Sounds, also hitting for the cycle, becoming the fourth player to achieve this in the history of that team.
After being released in November 2025, he signed with the Rays and was assigned to Durham, where he completed the Spring Training of 2026 before being traded.
The Astros have shown increasing interest in Cuban talent during 2026. The organization recently added Cuban prospect Danel Reyes and catcher Andy González, who officially signed on May 31st.
In Major League Baseball, the most prominent Cuban figure in the franchise remains Yordan Álvarez, who was leading the league in home runs in April of this year.
Delgado has accumulated 710 appearances in his Minor League career according to MLB.com records, and the move to an organization with a history of talent development and a consistent presence in the postseason could be the boost he needs to make the definitive leap to the Major Leagues.
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