Headlines

  • Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
  • Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks
  • DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return
  • Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return
  • Mariners Option Jarred Kelenic, Claim Adrian Sampson
  • Kumar Rocker Signs With Frontier League’s Tri-City ValleyCats
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rays Sign Ben Zobrist To Extension

By Luke Adams 2 | April 23, 2010 at 12:39pm CDT

The Rays officially signed Ben Zobrist to a three-year contract extension that includes two club options today. The deal buys out Zobrist's three arbitration seasons for $14.5MM, and the options would pay him $7MM in 2014 ($2.5MM buyout) and $7.5MM in 2015 ($500K buyout), his first two years of free agent eligibility. The extension also includes a signing bonus of just under $562K, bringing his 2010 salary to an even $1MM and the total value of the contract up to nearly $30MM, if both options are exercised.

The 28-year-old switch-hitter enjoyed an MVP-caliber season in 2009, hitting .297/.405/.543 while playing nearly every position on the diamond — and playing them well, according to UZR/150. He would have earned about $438K this year before hitting arbitration for the first time in 2011.

As a point of comparison, teammate Evan Longoria will earn $12.5MM in his first three arbitration seasons and has club options that total $22.5MM in his first two years of free agency. Longoria's contract is widely considered one of the most team-friendly deals in the league, but if Zobrist continues to perform like he did in 2009, he'll be a bargain as well. Very good job of locking up a core player by the Rays.

Marc Topkin of The St. Petersburg Times first reported the agreement, while Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune later tweeted the contract details.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Tampa Bay Rays Transactions Ben Zobrist

White Sox Gauging Pierzynski’s Value
Main
Could Cubs Attempt To Trade Gorzelanny?
View Comments (66)

Comments

  1. diesel2410

    12 years ago

    Good move Rays!

    Reply
  2. jwredsox

    12 years ago

    I’m still not sold on Zobrist sorry. And he has struggled this year (with exception to yesterday). Idk maybe it is just cause I’m a Red Sox fan lol.

    Reply
    • TimotheusATL

      12 years ago

      You’re correct. The only reason you’re not sold on him is because you’re a Red Sox fan. How’s that full-time DH working out for you, by the way?

      Reply
      • $1529282

        12 years ago

        Or it could be because Zobrist didn’t break out until age 28, and he hit more HRs in the Majors last year than he did over five minor league seasons and has gotten off to a terrible start to 2010.

        …But yeah, it’s probably just because he’s a Red Sox fan with an aging DH on a bad contract. How’s Pat Burrell working out by the way?

        Reply
        • TimotheusATL

          12 years ago

          Oh, Burrell has completely busted. And I’m a Braves fan, so I certainly don’t take that personally. I’m more worried about our own Mendoza-line offense trying to win every game with a 3-run homer.

          As far as breaking out at age 28, who cares? Is 28-32 not largely considered to be the prime years of a career? They’ll have him locked up with cost certainty for all of the best years of his career, and even have the potential to avoid the inevitable decline. It’s a pretty brilliant signing with minimal risk, provided that they didn’t trip over themselves (which would be very unlike the TB front office).

        • satchelprice

          12 years ago

          Actually, the prime for hitters is generally considered to be 25-29, with age 27 being the peak year.

          For fielders, primes generally happen earlier when they’re the most athletic, like the 21-25 age range.

      • jwredsox

        12 years ago

        K. Believe me, I’m hardly biased about other teams and I’m not like those Sox fans who probably got you all ticked off at the entire Nation. And what did calling out Ortiz have to do with Zobrist’s playing performance? Umadbro?

        Reply
        • TimotheusATL

          12 years ago

          Heh, I just disagree with your assessment of Zobrist based on emotion. I’m a big fan of Lester, Beckett, Pedroia, Ellsbury, and Youk as ballplayers. Like I replied above, my overriding concern is that my Bravos couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat 🙂

    • buddaley

      12 years ago

      Zobrist has not struggled this year. He got at least one hit in each of his first 8 games including 3 doubles and 2 triples. At that point his line was .323/.364/.548. He then hit a 7 game slump which ended yesterday with a 3/5 day that included 2 doubles.

      He has not been walking as he usually does, and while he is hitting for extra base power, they are not home runs. He is also striking out considerably more often than his norm. But it is hardly accurate to say, after 16 games during which he endured one 7 game stretch of poor hitting, that he has struggled.

      Reply
      • TwinsVet

        12 years ago

        A 7-game slump isn’t struggling?

        Reply
        • buddaley

          12 years ago

          Not in the context of the statement which states that he got off to a terrible start this year (he actually got off to a very good start) and implies that means his breakout last year was a fluke.

          I am not convinced his break out was entirely for real, although I do think he will continue to be a solid player for a while. But regardless, an 8 game solid start followed by a 7 game slump and then a fine game is hardly evidence that he is struggling or that his 2009 was a fluke.

          I do think that remarking on his declining BBs and increasing Ks might be a valid reason for concern, but even that is essentially meaningless over 62 or so ABs. If the point was merely to say that he was struggling over 7 games, I would have no quarrel, but to extrapolate from it that he is struggling to remain a good player is not good reasoning.

        • Guest

          12 years ago

          I believe his breakout was a fluke; however, I think he’ll still put up solid numbers… maybe (.270, 15 HRS, 68 RBI, 17 SB, 71 BBs)… and that, coupled with his versatility, will be enough to justify this contract, without too much of a fuss.

        • Guest

          12 years ago

          I believe his breakout was a fluke; however, I think he’ll still put up solid numbers… maybe (.270, 15 HRS, 68 RBI, 17 SB, 71 BBs)… and that, coupled with his versatility, will be enough to justify this contract, without too much of a fuss.

    • buddaley

      12 years ago

      Zobrist has not struggled this year. He got at least one hit in each of his first 8 games including 3 doubles and 2 triples. His line at that point was .323/.364/.548.

      He then went into a 7 game slump that, given the number of PAs, dramatically decreased that line. In the 8th game yesterday he went 3/5 with 2 more doubles, a walk and no Ks.

      It is true that he has not been walking as much as usual and is striking out more often. And although he is hitting for power, it is not for home runs. But after 16 games it is misleading, or at least premature, to say his early season performance demonstrates that he is struggling.

      Reply
    • bballblk

      2 years ago

      This comment didn’t age well

      Reply
  3. Dylan

    12 years ago

    Good for Zobie. Gotta love him. An “Everyday Utility Player.”

    Reply
  4. Justin

    12 years ago

    This is a great deal for the Rays and it gives Zobrist security.

    Reply
  5. markjsunz

    12 years ago

    The rays look to have prehaps the top 5 starters in the majors. Of course they are all very young but the talent goes deep. I would not be suprised to see the Rays give the yankees a battle. The red sox have seen better days.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Brandon Lowe Diagnosed With Stress Reaction, Shut Down For At Least Three Weeks

    DeGrom MRI Reveals “Continued Healing”; Still No Clear Timetable For Return

    Boras: Michael Conforto Not Ruling Out Late-Season Return

    Mariners Option Jarred Kelenic, Claim Adrian Sampson

    Kumar Rocker Signs With Frontier League’s Tri-City ValleyCats

    Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List

    Bryce Harper Has Tear In UCL, Won’t Throw For Four Weeks

    Padres Sign Robinson Cano

    Gerardo Parra Retires

    Mariners Promote George Kirby, Place Ken Giles On 60-Day IL

    Diamondbacks To Promote Alek Thomas

    A’s Reinstate Ramon Laureano, Designate Jorge Juan

    Mets Release Robinson Cano

    Twins To Promote Royce Lewis

    Recent

    Chris Paddack Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

    Rays Add Luke Bard To 40-Man Roster

    Diamondbacks Acquire Paul Fry From Orioles

    Angels Designate Cesar Valdez, Outright Aaron Whitefield

    Cubs Activate David Robertson From Injured List

    Pitching Notes: Kershaw, Wacha, Hernandez, Mayza

    Latest On Bryce Harper

    Padres Activate Blake Snell From Injured List

    Latest On Jake Odorizzi

    Eduardo Rodriguez Suffers Side Injury, Likely Headed For IL

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Trevor Story Rumors
    • Frankie Montas Rumors
    • Michael Conforto Rumors
    • Arbitration Tracker
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version