Tampa Bay Rays come to terms with nine arbitration eligibles

Hurler Jake Odorizzi is the only Ray headed to arbitration in 2017. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports)
Hurler Jake Odorizzi is the only Ray headed to arbitration in 2017. (Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports)

With the passing of the MLB arbitration deadline on Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays reached deals with nine of their 10 arbitration-eligible players, with hurler Jake Odorizzi the lone holdout.

The team reached agreements on 2017 contracts with Alex Cobb, Brad Boxberger, Corey Dickerson, Danny Farquhar, Erasmo Ramirez, Kevin Kiermaier, Tim Beckham, and Xavier Cedeno, bringing the 2017 payroll to $55.045 Million (thus far). You can see both the projected and settled amounts below in the table.

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Ever the target of trade fodder, Odorizzi was projected to earn $4.6 Million in 2017 after netting $520,700 last season. According to Roger Mooney (Tampa Bay Times), the right-hander filed at $4.1 million, and the Rays filed at $3.825 million.

Odorizzi joins an esteemed club of six others — Esteban Yan, Josh Paul, Dioner Navarro, Melvin Upton Jr, Jeff Niemann, and Drew Smyly — who couldn’t come to a mutually agreed upon number at the deadline, consequently leading to an arbitration hearing. However, only one player, Smyly, won an arbitration case against the Rays since Stuart Sternberg took over as principal owner following the 2005 season.

Chaim Bloom, Rays senior vice president of baseball operations, told the Times the ball club is happy to have come to terms with 90% of the eligible ballplayers.

This is always a grueling week with a lot of spirited back and forth, and I think when you have 10 players who are arbitration eligible, there’s always a chance you don’t come to an agreement with somebody. We’re happy to have agreements with the nine guys that we did agree with, but we understand that two sides see the world a little differently, and it’s a good thing there’s a process in place to let a third party choose.

Bloom went on, noting that though the team’s approach to the process is based on fairness, surprises may pop up from time-to-tme.

We always expect there’s going to be some differences of opinion that we’re going to have to resolve, and our approach to the process is we’re going to be fair. We’re just trying to get a fair agreement done and get this all behind us so we can focus on spring training and focus on winning some ball games.

Noteworthiness

— The Mariners reportedly agreed to terms with southpaw Drew Smyly on a $6.85 million deal, a raise from $3.75 million in 2016.

— Interestingly enough, the Rays could deal another starting pitcher. Per Mark Polishuk (MLB Trade Rumors), Rays GM Erik Neander said Tampa Bay “will continue to have an open mind” about moving another starting pitcher in an interview with Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio.

It should be notes, rumors have swirled around Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi and Alex Cobb all offseason, so it’s not out of the question that the Rays could deal another starter if they can score a significant return. Probable no, possible yes.

— In case you couldn’t remember, just 30 days until pitchers and catcher report.

Tracking the Rays at the arbitration deadline

Corey Dickerson settled for $3.025-million through arbitration today. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)
Corey Dickerson settled for $3.025-million through arbitration today. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

With the arbitration deadline looming Friday afternoon at 1:00 pm, the Tampa Bay Rays boast 10 arbitration eligible players on the roster:

  • Alex Cobb (5.061) – $4.0MM
  • Erasmo Ramirez (3.158) – $3.5MM
  • Brad Boxberger (3.109) – $1.5MM
  • Corey Dickerson (3.101) – $3.4MM
  • Brad Miller (3.094) – $3.8MM
  • Xavier Cedeno (3.060) – $1.2MM
  • Jake Odorizzi (3.042) – $4.6MM
  • Tim Beckham (2.134)
  • Danny Farquhar (2.168) – $1.1MM
  • Kevin Kiermaier (2.131) – $2.1MM

Note: the number in parentheses next to each player is his estimated Major League service time (Years.Days) through 2016 (172 days constitutes a full year of Major League service, per the collective bargaining agreement). Marked in italics are the two players who may qualify for Super 2 status, allowing players to enter salary arbitration a year early.

Once the deadline passes, and if the team and the eligible player don’t come to a consensus on a deserved salary, each will submit their proposed number, and head to an arbitration hearing in February.

We’ll update this piece with any information as it becomes available.

Rays trade Drew Smyly to Seattle for three minor leaguers; acquire OF from ChiSox

(Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)
(Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

On Wednesday, Erik Neander finally made the pitching deal long expected of the Tampa Bay Rays, trading lefty Drew Smyly to Seattle for center fielder Mallex Smith — who was just acquired by the Mariners in a trade with Atlanta — along with minor  league lefty Ryan Yarbrough, and minor league infielder Carlos Vargas.

Smyly has been a solid, back-end southpaw since his acquisition by Tampa Bay at the 2014 trade deadline, although was sidelined for much of the 2015 season by a torn labrum. He followed with a career-worst 4.88 ERA over 30 starts in 2016. He, however, posted career highs in starts (30) and innings (175-1/3), and managed an 8.6/2.5 K/BB rate. And while he lowered his groundball rate to a career low 31.3%, he allowed a career high 1.64 home runs per nine innings — for a grand total of 32 homers. To his credit, Smyly has consistently thrown strikes and limited walks throughout his career.

The former Ray joins fellow recent acquisition Yovani Gallardo, Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxton in the rotation. Seattle has control of Smyly for two years, and he is projected to earn $6.9MM via arbitration for the coming season.

Tampa Bay received three minor leaguers in return, one of which — Mallux Smith — has 72-games of big league experience under his belt.

When the Mariners traded for Smith earlier today, in a trade that cost the team a pair of prospects, they did so with the intent to flip him to Tampa Bay. According to Jeff Todd (MLB Trade Rumors), Smith was targeted by the Rays, despite the continued presence of Kevin Kiermaier in center and the recent signing of Colby Rasmus.

The 23 year-old Smith was Atlanta’s number eight prospect entering the 2016 season, and is valued for his defense and base running. As Scott Grauer (DRaysBay) wrote, Smith’s minor league career stolen-base percentage is 79.3 percent (230-for-290). In 1,795 career plate appearances in the minors, he owns a 10.8 percent walk rate and 17.0 percent strikeout rate. He is a career .296 hitter across parts of five minor league seasons, including a .287 mark across 72 games at the Triple-A level with Gwinnett last season.

Smith appeared in 72-games with the Braves last year when Ender Inciarte hit the disabled list. He wasn’t productive early on, slashing a lackluster .238 BA/.316 OBP/.365 SLG/.681 OPS in 215 plate appearances overall, although he rebounded to hit .272 BA/.338 OBP/.440 SLG/.778 OPS in 43 games from late April to mid-June when he suffered a fractured thumb. Smith boasts an 80-grade speed, while his defensive prowess finds him projected as a potential future Gold Glove winner.

Yarbrough, a fourth round pick by Seattle in 2014, was rated as the Mariners’ number 11 prospect by MLB.com. His fastball sits in the 91-93 mph range — topping out in the mid 90’s — and he also features a devastating changeup. The lefty profiles as a ground-ball inducing (51% more groundouts than pop-outs over his career) long man, or a spot starter pending the development of his slider. Even if it doesn’t come along, he has a future as a lefty reliever who can coax ground balls in double-play situations. He will likely start the 2017 season at Triple-A Durham.

According to Todd, Vargas ranked as one of the top international prospects on the market two years ago:

Vargas is still just 17 years of age — he’ll turn 18 in March — and ranked as one of the top available international prospects on the market a couple of years ago. Cooper tweetsthat he was set to rank 26th on Seattle’s forthcoming top 30 prospect list, and there’s reason to believe he could carry even more upside than that most ranking would suggest. Fangraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, for instance, tweets that there’s “sneaky” value in Vargas, whom he tabs as eventual third baseman with “big pull power projection” and a good approach.

In writing about Vargas last spring, BA’s Ben Badler noted that he has too many moving parts in his swing but has displayed a strong baseball IQ and an impressive ability to make adjustments at the behest of the Mariners’ staff. Badler also credited Vargas with above-average raw power, an ability to hit the ball the opposite way, and an above-average arm with a quick release. In 62 games/256 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League last year, Vargas batted .242/.344/.391 with seven homers, 11 doubles and nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (35).

Tampa Bay also claimed outfielder Jason Coats from the Chicago White Sox, designating Dylan Floro for assignment to clear roster space.

The 26-year-old Coats hit 27 home runs over 200 Triple-A games between 2015 and 2016, however, he batted just .200 with a .298 OBP and .340 SLG in his first 58 major league plate appearances. Baseball America notes that he can cover all three outfield spots.

Floro made his big league debut with Tampa Bay in 2016, posting a 4.20 ERA over 15 relief innings.

Hot-Stove: Rays ink one-year, $5-million deal with Colby Rasmus

The Tampa Bay Rays inked a one-year, $5-million deal with 30 year-old OF Colby Rasmus on Monday. (Photo Credit: Unknown)
The Tampa Bay Rays inked a one-year, $5-million deal with 30 year-old OF Colby Rasmus on Monday. (Photo Credit: Unknown)

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year, $5-million deal with 30 year-old free agent outfielder Colby Rasmus, reports Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). The deal comes with incentives that could boost its value to around $7-million.

Rasmus slashed just .206 BA/.286 OBP/.355 SLG/.641 OPS/.257 BABIP/.282 wOBA last season for Houston, following a 2015 campaign in which he batted .238 with a .475 SLG with 25 home runs and 61 RBI and a 117 wRC+ in 137 games. He is coming off of surgeries for a cyst in his ear as well as hip and core muscle maladies — which tends to explain his offensive fall-off.

Rasmus presents another left-handed bat to the outfield along with Kevin Kiermaier and Corey Dickerson. For the Rays, Rasmus will likely slot in at DH and left-field, while serving as a capable backup for Kiermaier in center, where he has spent a good amount of his career. According to Topkin, Dickerson could find himself serving more as a DH next season.

While Erik Neander and the rest of the Rays’ front office hopes for a bounce-back season, in the batter’s box, from Rasmus, the outfielder has drawn strong defensive reviews, especially last year when he posted a +20 DRS, and is known as a good base runner even though he doesn’t often attempt to steal.

It isn’t yet known whether or not the team will continue to pursue a first baseman to platoon with Brad Miller. MLB Trade Rumor’s Jeff Todd spoke to that Monday, saying:

The Rays have also been connected, at least loosely, to a variety of right-handed hitters, including veteran slugger Jose Bautista. It isn’t known at this point whether adding Rasmus will preclude the club from pursuing one of the various first base/DH types still floating around on the market, but it’s certainly possible to imagine multiple acquisitions if the price is right. Tampa Bay is also still reportedly engaged with other organizations about their surplus of capable rotation arms.

Once the deal is made official by the team, the Rays will need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Rasmus — be that by trade or otherwise.

Dick Vitale advocates for Baseball Forever; Drew Smyly trade rumors

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale advocated for a new baseball stadium in St. Petersburg. (Photo Credit: JimmyV.org)
ESPN college basketball analyst, Dick Vitale, advocated for a new baseball stadium in St. Petersburg. (Photo Credit: JimmyV.org)

ESPN college basketball analyst, Dick Vitale, advocated for the Baseball Forever campaign to build a new stadium in St. Petersburg for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Baseball Forever campaign is the official initiative by the city of St. Petersburg to keep the Rays in the Sunshine City.

A Manatee County resident, Vitale announced his support in a video posted on YouTube (seen above).

One of the touchstones of the Baseball Forever campaign, is the proposed stadium site’s proximity to areas like Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton. Vitale reminded viewers that the drive to downtown St. Petersburg would be easier for Rays’ fans south of the Skyway, than a commute to some areas in Hillsborough County.

I think it’s perfectly located and I’m hoping it is a reality, Vitale said.

Vitale also lauded the master plan for the Tropicana Field site with his token catch phrase, “it’s awesome, baby.”

The master plan includes:

— A new stadium in the northeast corner of the site along First Avenue South, where U-Haul currently resides.

— The architecture on the site would be tallest around the baseball stadium, slowly leveling out toward the surrounding neighborhoods.

— Around the stadium would be a series of much taller office buildings on one half, and shorter buildings on the other.

— The design also boasts a hotel and meeting space, a conference center, a tech and innovation district, and layered development with retail storefronts at ground level and housing above it — all ringing the stadium. Called the “Rays Way” retail entertainment area, the street would be car free on game days.

— Booker Creek would be restored, turning the area which cuts through the middle of the 86 acre site into a natural park setting. All told, 40 percent (34 plus acres) of the property would be dedicated to public space, including sidewalks and paved thoroughfares.

— Since connectability with the rest of the region is an integral part of the plan, a transportation hub in downtown has been included where the forthcoming water ferry and Bus Rapid Transit could connect. HKS recommended the conversion of First Avenue South into a two-way street to better facilitate transportation options.

I really believe it would be first class in every way, Vitale said.

Noteworthiness

— According to Ryan Divish (Seattle Times), the Seattle Mariners talked with the Rays about a trade for Drew Smyly at the 2016 Winter Meetings. It’s no secret that Seattle has approached to the Rays front office about their pitching staff, with Smyly mentioned as a better fit since the Mariners likely do not have the prospect depth to land Chris Archer or Jake Odorizzi.

Smyly who is projected to earn $6.9-million through arbitration, has been mentioned as the likeliest trade candidate for the payroll-conscious Rays.

— Jeff Todd (MLB Trade Rumors) listed 10 bounce-back pitching candidates still available in free agency. Of interest to the Rays are Tyson Ross, Drew Storen, and Aaron Barrett.