Jim Hickey agreed to a contract extension on Tuesday.
Jim Hickey (pictured) agreed to a contract extension through 2018 on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey has agreed to a new three-year deal that will keep him with the organization through 2018.

Hickey, considered one of the top pitching coaches in the majors, has been with the Rays since 2007. During his tenure under Joe Maddon and now Kevin Cash, the Rays’ pitching staff has ranked among the league’s best. Pitchers ― both past and present, staff, team executives and competitors throughout the game have heaped praise upon Hickey, who has been credited with reviving the careers of hurlers like Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano. He’s also helped “fix” pitchers like Drew Smyly and Erasmo Ramirez.

Hickey was signed through 2016, however, this new contract will replace that deal. Although the terms of the deal are not available, one could assume he received a well deserved raise.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), who broke the story, speculated that Hickey would have been a hot commodity among other teams if the Rays let him get to the end of his contract. With foresight being 20/20, President for Baseball Operations Matt Silverman stepped in before that could happen.

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