Rays, Longoria set to agree on long-term extension
By Jon Ziegler | April 18th, 2008 | Posted in General
UPDATE: The contract is for 6 years, with options that can make it a 9-year deal. (ESPN)
So much for the saga surrounding Evan Longoria’s arbitration clock. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that the Rays and Longoria are on the verge of agreeing to a new, long-term deal.
The details of the contract are not yet known, but it is believed that the deal will be for six years in the $17 million range with option scenarios that will enable the Rays to buy out two years of Longoria’s free agency.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I can’t even believe how much love the Rays are showing their current players right now. I think Upton’s contract will get extended next, but not until possibly later in the season, or after this season. I think the Rays want Upton to show another good full season so they know exactly what he’s worth. If he repeats his performance from last year, I think he’ll get a sweet deal. If he falters, it will be tough to extend him. I love this deal though, with Longoria. I wasn’t even thinking about the Rays offering him anything until possibly after this season. This is just simply incredible. It’s about time for all of us to shut up about the organization’s commitment to winning.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Well said AJ “It’s about time for all of us to shut up about the organization’s commitment to winning.” We need more dedicated fans.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The timing on this seems kind of odd, but I don’t really know why. Just something feels really weird about this. I can’t put my finger on it, but at least we’ll know who’s playing third for the next 8 years.
Willy Aybar, we hardly knew ye.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I think Aybar will become our new Wiggy. He is a competent fill-in for the corners, and can play 2nd base half-way decent from what I have been told. It’s helps that he’s a switch-hitter, and swings an average bat. He doesn’t have a ton of pop, but he’ll be suffice for a reserve role.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Has anyone actually SEEN Aybar play a position other than third? I don’t want to annoint him our utility player until we know he can do it.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I love, love, love this… The only thing that can go wrong is Longoria gets “too happy” and becomes lazy knowing he is not playing for a contract… PECOTA suggests that he will be worth almost 12-14 mil a year between 2008-2012…
It’s kinda odd because of the timing, and does have a strange feel to it, but I think this is the master stroke for FriedCo.
Show these people they mean business keeping the talent here, and that we arent some farm system for everyone else to raid once these guys hit a certain age. Next player to sign is Upton, then Kazmir… If we cannot get Kaz to juimp on board by the end of next season, trade him for a king’s ransom, and keep the talent pool overflowing…
April 18th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Aybar can be a compitant backup for 3rd, DH on occasion… Maddon will find a place for him. Im sure he is not horrid anywhere on the diamond, seeings how he can field dynamically at 3b…
April 18th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I have not seen him, but he has done it. At AA ball, he played 125 games at 2B, at AAA, he played 100 and in the majors he has played 21 games there. In fact, in 2004 he played all his games (125) at 2B. In 2006, his last year before this, he had 22 AAA games at 2B and 29 at 3B. In the majors that year, Atlanta used him at 2B 15 times and at 3B 32 times. All his 29 games while in LA were at third, but in 2005 they played him at 2B six times out of the 26 games in which he appeared.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Not to hijack the Longoria thread, but the Rays have apparently claimed Dan Johnson off of waivers. See the diary in the sidebar for more info.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
A 9 year deal? Wow. That is impressive.
So happy to know that Longoria isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Great news for the present and the future!!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
This deal could end up being a steal for the Rays. I find it interesting that the team elected to start him in Durham to start the season, and now they have given him at least $17.5 million guaranteed.