Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Rays
2009/10/offseason-outlook-tampa-bay-rays-4.htmlTheir likely commitments for 2010: C - Gregg Zaun - $2MM (club option, Zaun can void)C - Shawn Riggans - $414K1B - Carlos Pena - $10.125MM2B - Ben Zobrist - $416KSS - Jason Bartlett - $1.98MM+3B - Evan Longoria - $950KIF - Willy Aybar - $1.35MMIF - Reid Brignac - $400KLF - Carl Crawford - $10MM (club option)CF - B.J.
Rays Deal Iwamura To Pirates For Chavez
2009/11/rays-close-to-dealing-iwamura.htmlThe Rays don't need Iwamura thanks to Ben Zobrist's emergence, but it's not surprising that other teams have interest in the Japanese infielder.
Odds & Ends: Lackey, Bay, Matsui, Wilson
2009/11/odds-ends-lackey-bay-matsui-wilson.htmlSteve Slowinski at DRays Bay goes back and evaluates the deal that brought Mitch Talbot and Ben Zobrist to Tampa in exchange for Aubrey Huff.
Indians Get Mitch Talbot In Kelly Shoppach Trade
2009/12/indians-get-mitch-talbot-in-kelly-shoppach-trade.htmlThey also received Ben Zobrist, who was immensely valuable this year.
Rays Interested In Orlando Hudson
2010/01/rays-interested-in-orlando-hudson.htmlPetersburg Times (via Twitter) thinks "it's unlikely anything happens" between Tampa Bay and Hudson, noting that the Rays are happy…… He does say, however, that the Rays "have interest in [a number] of free agents."8:12pm: ESPN's Buster Olney reports (via…
Discussion: Next Young Position Player To Be Extended
2010/04/discussion-next-young-position-player-to-be-extended.htmlLike Zobrist, he had a monster '09 and his team will probably wait at least a few months to see more of the same.
First Time Arbitration-Eligibles
2010/04/first-time-arbitrationeligibles.htmlOutfielders Shin-Soo Choo, Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz, Ben Zobrist, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Sweeney, Lastings Milledge - it's a talented group…
Rays Sign Ben Zobrist To Extension
2010/04/rays-sign-zobrist-to-extension.htmlThe 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.
Odds & Ends: Zobrist, Pierzynski, Lowe, Padres
2010/04/odds-ends-zobrist-pierzynski-lowe-padres-overbay.htmlBen Zobrist said signing his extension was a "no-brainer," according to Marc Topkin of The St.
Week In Review: 4/18/10 – 4/24/10
2010/04/week-in-review-41810-42410.htmlThe week's top story is the extension signed by Rays' swiss army knife Ben Zobrist.
Odds & Ends: Tigers, Zobrist, Posey, Crisp
2010/04/odds-ends-posey-crisp-angels.htmlZobrist officially agreed to a three-year extension with the Rays on Friday.
Odds & Ends: Paul, Embree, Zobrist, Wakefield
2010/04/embree-zobrist-wakefield.htmlThe AP has details on Ben Zobrist's $18MM extension with the Rays.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Howard, Prince, Konerko
2010/04/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-howard-prince-konerko.htmlThe Baseball Opinion reviews the trade that sent Ben Zobrist from the Astros to Tampa Bay.
2011 Contract Issues: Tampa Bay Rays
2010/05/2011-contract-issues-tampa-bay-rays.htmlIncreases to players under contract check in around $7.9MM, led by Ben Zobrist…
Possible Destinations: Jose Bautista
2010/05/possible-destinations-jose-bautista.htmlDoes that make Bautista the new Ben Zobrist? Dave Cameron of FanGraphs says no - or at least not yet.
The David DeJesus Trade Market
2010/06/the-david-dejesus-trade-market.htmlAdding DeJesus would allow the Rays to move Ben Zobrist out of right and back to second base if Sean…
Rays Seek Impact Bats
2010/07/rays-seek-impact-bats.htmlThe Rays, who can spend this summer, aren’t looking for offense at a particular position, since the versatile Ben Zobrist…
Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Mariners, Red Sox
2010/07/cardinals-mariners-red-sox.htmlFour years ago today, the Rays sent Aubrey Huff and cash to the Astros for Ben Zobrist and Mitch Talbot…
The 2011 Rays And Carl Crawford
2010/07/the-2011-rays.htmlWhen you combine their salaries and the aforementioned buyouts with guarantees to Ben Zobrist ($4.6MM), James Shields ($4.25MM), Kelly Shoppach ($3MM), David Price ($2.2MM) and Evan Longoria ($2MM), you reach $32MM or so in a hurry.
How Reasonable Are Jeff Francoeur’s Demands?
2010/08/how-reasonable-are-jeff-francoeurs-demands.htmlThe four closest to him? Jay Bruce (96), Ben Zobrist (98), Hunter Pence (102) and Ichiro Suzuki (107).
Rays Sign Brad Hawpe
2010/08/rays-to-sign-brad-hawpe.htmlUpton and Ben Zobrist have the outfield covered.
2011 Payroll Commitments
2010/10/2011-payroll-commitments.htmlRays, $17.674MM: Ben Zobrist and James Shields make up basically half of this.
Potential Suitors For Gordon Beckham
2010/11/potential-suitors-for-gordon-beckham.htmlThe Yankees (Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano), Rays (Evan Longoria, Sean Rodriguez, Ben Zobrist), Mariners (Chone Figgins, Dustin Ackley), Rangers (Michael Young, Ian Kinsler), Braves (Chipper Jones, Martin Prado, Omar Infante), Phillies (Placido Polanco, Chase Utley), Nationals (Ryan Zimmerman, Danny Espinosa), Reds (Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips), Brewers (Casey McGehee, Rickie Weeks) and Pirates (Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker) have long-term options at third and second.
Extension Season Isn’t Over Yet
2011/03/extension-season-isnt-over-yet.htmlBen Zobrist ($18MM), Adam Lind ($18MM), Denard Span ($16.5MM), Brian Wilson ($15MM), Mark Reynolds ($14.5MM), Nick Blackburn ($14MM), Brett Anderson ($12.5MM), Scott Feldman ($11.5MM), Todd Helton ($9.9MM) and Jeremy Affeldt ($9.5MM) all signed extensions, too, as MLBTR's Transaction Tracker shows.
Potential Suitors For Chris Davis
2011/03/potential-suitors-for-chris-davis.htmlRays - Though Dan Johnson and Ben Zobrist are capable of playing first, the Rays might like the idea of buying low on Davis.