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.
Good move Rays!
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.
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?
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?
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).
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.
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?
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 🙂
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.
A 7-game slump isn’t struggling?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Good for Zobie. Gotta love him. An “Everyday Utility Player.”
This is a great deal for the Rays and it gives Zobrist security.
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.