The following is the official press release from the Rays on deals with RHP Burke Badenhop, LHP J. P. Howell, LHP David Price and OF B. J. Upton:
RAYS AGREE TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACTS, AVOID ARBITRATION WITH BADENHOP, HOWELL, PRICE AND UPTON
ST. PETERSBURG, FL—The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year contracts and avoided arbitration with pitchers Burke Badenhop, J.P. Howell and David Price and center fielder B.J. Upton.
Badenhop, who turns 29 on February 8, will earn $1.075 million. In 2011 he went 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA (63.2-IP, 29-ER) in 50 relief appearances for the Florida Marlins. From the time of his May 7 call-up through the end of the season, the righthander led Marlins relievers with 63.2 innings pitched. He was acquired by the Rays from the Marlins in exchange for catcher Jake Jefferies on December 12.
Howell, 28, will earn $1.35 million. The left-handed reliever returned to the Rays in 2011 after missing the entire 2010 season due to left shoulder surgery. He was reinstated from the disabled list on May 20 and then spent the rest of the season in the majors, making 46 appearances out of the bullpen and posting a 2-3 record and 6.16 ERA (30.2-IP, 21-ER). In five seasons with the Rays, he has compiled a 4.21 ERA and 279 strikeouts.
Price, 26, will earn $4.35 million. The Rays Opening Day starter in 2011 went 12-13 with a 3.49 ERA (224.1-IP, 87-ER) in a team-high 34 starts last year and earned his second All-Star selection. He ranked fifth in the AL in strikeouts (218), ninth in innings pitched (224.1) and eighth in opponents’ batting average (.230) and held lefties to a .171 average (36-for-210), lowest among major league starters. In four seasons with the Rays, he is 41-26 with a 3.38 ERA.
Upton, 27, will earn $7 million. The center fielder hit 23 home runs with 36 stolen bases last year, numbers matched by only two other major league players: the Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp (39-HR, 40-SB) and Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (32-HR, 39-SB). He is the longest-tenured member of the Rays roster, with one more day of service time than James Shields.
0 recs | 185 comments
Price might of just helped us resign Pena
Upton…well, it’s a contract year so optimism is needed despite the high number (for the Rays)
joeybw - January 17, 2012
HAVE
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
HAVE
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
HAVE
sc_monsta1015 - January 17, 2012
HAVE
firemangreg - January 17, 2012
HAVE
nomoredevil - January 17, 2012
HAVE
benderbrodriguez - January 17, 2012
RE-SIGN
Doug09 - January 17, 2012
This is great news for Rays fans. When many here had Price at $7.5mil (i said about $5)
he settles for a lot less.
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
Yeah good call on your part.
That deal is a steal for the Rays. Very team-friendly. I think it bodes well towards working out a long-term deal too.
John Gregg - January 17, 2012
I've never seen an athlete tweet so much about wanting a long term deal.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen an athlete tweet that much.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012 via mobile
You don't follow LoMo then
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Oh I do.
I don’t consider those tweets. That is art.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
rounding down from 5.9 and 6?
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
MLBTR has over 6.5
Original number we were kicking around these parts was somewhere from 5.5 to 5.9M
Either way, 4.35M is a damn steal
Jason Collette - January 17, 2012
MLBTR had it at $7.6.
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
*7.8
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
This.
I think they were projecting what Lincecum earned as part of his two year deal that bought out his first two years of arb.
jcmitchell - January 17, 2012
I'm pretty sure this is the largest discrepancy so far this year.
Matt’s model has been dead on almost every time, which makes this even crazier for me. Price could’ve gotten more, but it seems he chose to sign for less.
Steve Slowinski - January 17, 2012
Interestingly it is the same amount that Hamels received...
and they had similar statistics
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
Good comp.
There’s such a wide gulf in pitcher arb results. Hamles works for Price, but his agent could have pulled out some big guns if he wanted.
Steve Slowinski - January 17, 2012
3 years difference though, even with minor inflation you'd expect a bit more.
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
Impending extension please
#delusionstoday
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
Many in here had Price going for well over $7 but i'm not the FreeZo who does searches
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
and you had him at 6 million
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
not originally
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
_
here and here ? And this is just funny.
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
"Lomgotia 4.5"
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
so pumped
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
+1
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
How likely is it that the Rays wait until the trade deadline this year to get another bat?
It’d be interesting how the options available work out. Though I’m not sure how well, Scott/Canzler, etc. would work out at first base.
This is assuming they’re smack in the thick of things up until that point though.
mint420 - January 17, 2012
Eh, we never do anything at the deadline so I say unlikely.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
It could work out for someone who is contending and badly needs a starting pitcher to help them get to the playoffs though.
mint420 - January 17, 2012
I could see a Niemann, hopefully he restores some of his value, swap for a bat
MakeitRayn - January 17, 2012
This has to mean one of three things:
1) Rays are really trying to acquire someone big, big enough to make Price think they are going to win this year
2) Price is going to extend with the Rays
3) Rays agreed to trade Price to a team that can extend him
Am I missing something?
playjoyce - January 17, 2012
I was saying he was helping them get Pena because
Pena/power bat traded for = more wins, maybe on days Prices started which then = more money for Price
Something along those lines. He helps them for 2012 and himself for 2013 and beyond.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
4. Price's second-half struggles were because of some sort of injury
Had to, sorry.
Imperialism32 - January 17, 2012
Would that come out at an arbitration hearing?
playjoyce - January 17, 2012
DRB friend Cork has the Rays projected payroll now at $56mil--i see it lower
glassman—do a spread for us
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
fill in the blanks...
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TBR/2011-roster.shtml#payroll::8
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
^^^OCD^^^
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
lol
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
Noted friend of the site, Cork Gaines...
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
Corque Gaynez*
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
55.285 million is my calculation at it stands.
ega05me - January 17, 2012
That includes Niemann being paid an estimated 3.1 million
ega05me - January 17, 2012
this is good news
but it will be great news if the rays actually use those savings to put towards another bat, because at the end of the day do any of us really care if our payroll is $57 mil instead of $60 mil next season
LukeBaileysaStud - January 17, 2012
trading neimann + price's discount = carlos pena
The guy is nasty on the mound when healthy and just nasty looking rest of the time. He’s nasty all year round, who wouldn’t want that?
joeybw - January 17, 2012
I just don't understand the love affair with Pena.
Would you be upset if they brought in Kotch over Pena? Kotch had a better WAR than Pena last year.
playjoyce - January 17, 2012
Feel like having more power in the lineup.
We’ll see who ends up at 1B. The Indians and Rays both like Pena and Kotchman.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
We can both light some candles for Votto or Trumbo and then this debate can be put to rest!
playjoyce - January 17, 2012
Kotch doesn't feel the need that Pena does.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
*fill
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
yes.
if salaries were equal (or even within a few mil) i’d prefer peña on a 1 yr deal
LukeBaileysaStud - January 17, 2012
Let's not pretend that Kotchman has any chance of replicating his 2011
But you’re right that people here are overrating Pena (largely for emotional reasons) and that the gap isn’t as large as it may seem
benderbrodriguez - January 17, 2012
I don't think it is that much of a sentimental pick...
Pena’s got a track record of being the all around better offensive player
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
And he's the best option currently available
Still destroys RHP, we can figure out LHP later.
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
And
we lost Damon the clubhouse leader. Team chemistry is worth something. Ask the Jets.
joaker5 - January 17, 2012
AF desperately combing the remaining players on the market with "clubhouse leadership" abilities
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
damn
We’re going to be stuck with Kevin Millar aren’t we?
joaker5 - January 17, 2012
I constantly troll the Intentional Talk twitter account about Kevin Millar.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
What are the odds Kotch posts a wRC+ of 100+ next year?
mr. maniac - January 17, 2012
Quick roster projection with salary figures:
Player 2012 salary
James Shields $7.00
BJ Upton $7.00
Luke Scott $5.00
Ben Zobrist $4.50
Evan Longoria $4.50
Kyle Farnsworth $3.30
Joel Peralta $2.18
David Price $4.35
JP Howell $1.35
Burke Badenhop $1.08
Wade Davis $1.50
Jose Molina $1.80
Fernando Rodney $2.00
Matt Moore $1.00
Jeff Niemann* $3.10
Sean Rodriguez $0.50
Matt Joyce $0.50
Reid Brignac $0.50
Jeremy Hellickson $0.50
Sam Fuld $0.50
Cesar Ramos $0.50
Jake McGee $0.50
Elliot Johnson $0.50
Brandon Gomes $0.50
Brandon Guyer $0.50
Total $54.65
Anyone else would get the minimum unless we sign a FA. Still a little money to play with. We’re about $20 mill. under 2010 and $10 under 2009. Wouldn’t be surprised if we still had $10 mill to sign a FA.
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
The salary has gone up but Evan's contract continues to make me giddy.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Isnt shields at 8 mil
500k for performance incentives and 500k for where he finished in cy young voting
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Is that right?
sc_monsta1015 - January 17, 2012
http://www.raysindex.com/2011/10/rays-shields-farnsworth-shoppach-options.html
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
also
is it really considered a “savings” like we are referring to it as if this is what friedman had projected all along?
LukeBaileysaStud - January 17, 2012
My JP Howell jersey gets an extension as well
Here’s hoping I can wear it this year without a bag over my head.
nomoredevil - January 17, 2012
Quick roster projection with salary figures:
Player 2012 salary
James Shields $7.00
BJ Upton $7.00
Luke Scott $5.00
Ben Zobrist $4.50
Evan Longoria $4.50
Kyle Farnsworth $3.30
Joel Peralta $2.18
David Price $4.35
JP Howell $1.35
Burke Badenhop $1.08
Wade Davis $1.50
Jose Molina $1.80
Fernando Rodney $2.00
Matt Moore $1.00
Jeff Niemann* $3.10
Sean Rodriguez $0.50
Matt Joyce $0.50
Reid Brignac $0.50
Jeremy Hellickson $0.50
Sam Fuld $0.50
Cesar Ramos $0.50
Jake McGee $0.50
Elliot Johnson $0.50
Brandon Gomes $0.50
Brandon Guyer $0.50
Total $54.65
Anyone else would get the minimum unless we sign a FA. Still a little money to play with. We’re about $20 mill. under 2010 and $10 under 2009. Wouldn’t be surprised if we still had $10 mill to sign a FA.
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
At least $5mil
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
also the $3.1 for niems is from MLBTR which will probably be high based on Price.
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
I'll point it out again
Shields is 8 mil
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Is that right?
sc_monsta1015 - January 17, 2012
please provide a link
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
http://www.raysindex.com/2011/10/rays-shields-farnsworth-shoppach-options.html
Per corque gaynes
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I found a Rancel article too....
it does appear that those incentives pushed this year’s option to 8 million
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
good spot. so its at 55-56 mill
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
Back up cacther missing
Lobaton $0.5
Moore Guerreri and Cheese - January 17, 2012
*catcher
Moore Guerreri and Cheese - January 17, 2012
Can somebody run some salary projections?
nomoredevil - January 17, 2012
Or perhaps some estimates of payroll allocation?
nomoredevil - January 17, 2012
I'd like to see a quick roster projection with salary figures
Imperialism32 - January 17, 2012
look up
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
snarkometer broken?
nomoredevil - January 17, 2012
This
Imperialism32 - January 17, 2012
lol... guess so
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
Pena at $5-7 or a trade?
sternfan1 - January 17, 2012
I'm choosing Pena
A lot of people might go elsewhere but not only the homers and the defense. Pena was like a 2nd pitching coach, he would come over and talk to the pitchers. That guy was even able to calm Garza down
joeybw - January 17, 2012
forget peña and notch
if they really saved this much money go get konerko
LukeBaileysaStud - January 17, 2012
w0000t
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
Notes from the Price conference call
-He kept out of the whole thing and let his agent and Friedman work out all of it
-Avoiding arbitration is a sigh of relief; loves being a Ray and is very happy
-Awesome to tie a record as a first time arb guy but knows Kershaw is going to break it quickly
-Loves the community, the clubhouse, the staff. Would love to work something out longterm but knows it is a business
-If they hit the ball to center & it’s not leaving the yard, Upton has a great chance to make a play. Thinks he could be a MVP candidate in 2012
-Loves the new additions, especially adding Luke Scott. Would love to have the 2009/2010 version of him and thinks Scott will fit in well with the team because he likes to have a good time in the dugout
-We have a good time on the field, a good time in the clubhouse, a good time on road trips. People want to be here
-No plans for any new toys outside of getting Astro something nice
Jason Collette - January 17, 2012
He talks like a FA who just signed a long term mega deal with a new team.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Good stuff.
Upton MVP candidate though? That’s interesting.
John Gregg - January 17, 2012
not really, players talking highly of their teammates is not really surprising at all.
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
this is a good point...
it’s like the 620 guys interviewing the radio announcers for the teams that employ assistants the Bucs are considering. Of course they all think the guy is going to be a great head coach.
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
i fully expect upton to have a fantastic year playing for a contract, but for anyone to say he's MVP-caliber is just talking him up a bit.
which is fine but i don’t give any credence to it.
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
If anyone on the Rays other than Zobrist or Longo puts up an MVP worthy performance...
then I fully expect the Rays to have an excellent year
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
Right not surprising at all actually.
I meant to say “really?”
Although it would be nice if he was.
John Gregg - January 17, 2012
Price keeps saying how much he loves it here.
We get it, you want a long term deal. We want a long term deal. Lower that asking price.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
with $4.35MM as an arb1 salary
it’s pretty easy to plug in a long-term deal that replaces his 2012 salary with $5MM, another modest signing bonus, then three more arb years at 7, 9, and 11, plus one or two option years at 14, plus modest buyouts.
So that’d be 4 years/32MM guaranteed with a max of 6 years/60MM. That should be doable.
AndrewTorrez - January 17, 2012
DOOOOO IT!
rglass44 - January 18, 2012
Totally OT: Heading to Spring Training with my dad this year
Suggestions on where in the park I should try to get tickets for?
Imperialism32 - January 17, 2012
No one from DRB actually goes to any of the games
Ryan Gilliss - January 17, 2012
This
nomoredevil - January 17, 2012
Across from the Rays dugout
Try to see if Upton gets annoyed by Luke Scott.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
it doesnt matter. not a bad seat in the house.
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
park in lot 69, sit in section 420, bring binoculars
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
I went and just got boardwalk seats.
Look it up online before you go, some games during the week are buy-one-get-one-free. Get there early enough to get a bar spot in the Florida sun behind center, and enjoy 4 dollar beers!.
MakeitRayn - January 17, 2012
$46,706,000 of committed payroll
With Niemann and the other tenders to come
Jason Collette - January 17, 2012 via iPhone app
It's roughly 56, 57 million
And especially if we trade Neimann, we should be able to afford Los, thanks to Price.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
since this frees up some extra cash
guess we can make a run at prince…
LukeBaileysaStud - January 17, 2012
Yeah, maybe if Price and Upton were paying us instead, we could afford a third of him.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
if only...
LukeBaileysaStud - January 17, 2012
"could afford"
“could aff”
I’m onto you
Imperialism32 - January 17, 2012
HAVEFORD
Passionate Apathy - January 17, 2012 via mobile
lol
benderbrodriguez - January 17, 2012
Isn't Stu talking about a new stadium today also?
Wonder how that’s going.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
Heater'd
Travis Lee - January 17, 2012
Hey, I got a warning for that type of comment last year, and mine was sarcasm!
playjoyce - January 17, 2012
No warnings on the Heater, homie.
Literally everyone on there has to be trolling.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
That ignit
Upton is swung at more pitches IN and OUT of the zone last year
MakeitRayn - January 17, 2012
...and Upton
Imperialism32 - January 17, 2012
jesus christ
benderbrodriguez - January 17, 2012
This is a DRB fanpost comment in about 1 year.
Doug09 - January 17, 2012
I'll take the under.
firemangreg - January 17, 2012
I love David Price.
I said it.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Dont be ashamed
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I'm actually quite shocked to see how little we will be paying Price.
I thought we were fine to get Pena even if Price was making that $7M, but now……WE CAN GET PRINCE!!!!
sc_monsta1015 - January 17, 2012
Looks like another team is gonna need a DH
Victor Martinez is out for the year.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Damon back to Detroit?
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
They've been quiet
Sleeper team for Prince I think.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Or a Fielder
Ben Tumbling - January 17, 2012
Or Cespedes
They have been linked to him a lot already. This may intensify their pursuit.
John Gregg - January 17, 2012
Somewhere Pena is smiling
That maybe part time DH gig in NY just became possibly a signing competition between the Indians(who have been interested) and the Tigers(who now have a major opening).
Maybe the Rays have an interest but I have to think the price tag just went up.
budman3 - January 17, 2012
I think the Tigers are aiming higher
I’m tellin ya, sleeper Fielder team.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
That's where his dad played for a good "chunk" of his career, so who knows?
Hipster Doofus - January 17, 2012
he hates his dad
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
Cecil
How can Prince hate his dad. He got such good genes. about a size 62 it looks like.
joaker5 - January 17, 2012
terrible.
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
corny
Just remember, if it wasn’t for corny jokes we wouldn’t know what good jokes were.
joaker5 - January 17, 2012
As I was writing it
the back of my mind was saying, “Does he even get a long with his dad?” Should have paid more attention to the back of my mind.
Hipster Doofus - January 17, 2012
*along
Hipster Doofus - January 17, 2012
Almost joey'd
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
more like almost sandusky'd
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
What joey does to the english language
Is sandusky’d
BossmanJunior333 - January 18, 2012 via mobile
They are committed to vmart for 3 more years
So likely 1 year deal for a bat
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I'm going to make this point again
From 2009 to 2011 vs RHP (since we can all agree Pena can’t hit lefties)
Pena: .369 wOBA; 130 wRC+
Betemit: .364 wOBA; 126 wRC+
Is Betemit’s offensive value enough to tip the scale that Friedman has referred to when trying to find a bat? If not, why not go get both? Detroit could now bring him back since he hit well for them after the trade but now that the Pena market has opened up with at least another team, time to look at other options just in case.
Jason Collette - January 18, 2012
Would it be so bad if the Rays weren't allowed to move but got a new stadium anyway?
I think attendance would shoot up simply because of shiny new toy syndrome if the Rays got a new stadium. Which would mean, they can actually be active in free agency.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
It's been shown that increases in attendance due to new stadiums are shortlived
benderbrodriguez - January 17, 2012
Welp, Marlins are more screwed than I thought then
And I already thought they were pretty screwed with that Reyes deal being so back loaded just to sign Pujols….then not signing Pujols.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Marlins have a roof now at least
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
It's normally a 5-7 year bump.
Steve Slowinski - January 17, 2012
As long as they are happening!
joeybw - January 17, 2012
That's semi-good news on that front
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
I know Price and Friedman exchanged some numbers last ST on an extension...
Will be interesting to see what happens.
td32 - January 17, 2012
After the discount he gave today and the constant mentions of long term deals, loving being a Ray
Maybe it’s not impossible like I thought as recently as well….yesterday.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
We have the Gio contract to work from now too
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
Seriously, Price is all about the Rays.
It’s pretty cool to see a guy as into his team as he is.
SandalsNoPants - January 17, 2012
I'm on board with this.
mr. maniac - January 17, 2012
Seriously though, could you ever see Price playing for the Yankees or Red Sox?
I just can’t. He is one of the few players that acts like a fan in that sense.
mr. maniac - January 17, 2012
Astro would go berzerk.
Hatfield - January 17, 2012
So that Keppinger account appears real after all
This is one addition I’m not too excited about.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
WHAT? YOU'RE NOT PUMPED FOR JEFF KEPPINGER?
Doug09 - January 17, 2012
I love how that Longoria draft worked out
Lincecum makes 17 million this season if he LOSES, he asked for 21 million. Longo will bring in 4.5 million this season.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Dodgers may be sending David a thank you note also.
Kershaw asked for 10 million, Dodgers offered 6.5 and I’m thinking Price will get the Dodgers to win.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
i dont think one has much barring on the other
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
joey-level grammar in a response to joey...fair.
pudieron89 - January 17, 2012
niemann's figure will be $2.75 or $3.2. id guess the lower figure is betetr, but we'll see.
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
Then he will make 2.75
We don’t lose.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Garza got like 3.2 in his 1st year
Can’t imagine Niemann beating that
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
that was s2 wasnt it?
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
Yes, it was
He’s in his 3rd arby year and has one left still.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
Sure, but does it matter that much nowadays?
Transplanted - January 17, 2012
idk
rglass44 - January 17, 2012
I can't believe Niemann thinks he will win.
mr. maniac - January 17, 2012
No way he gets the $3.2
sc_monsta1015 - January 17, 2012
What happens
to Niemann’s arbitration #’s if he gets traded before the hearing?
ttnorm - January 17, 2012
Garza is asking for 10.22 million these days
I think we traded him at the right time.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
In light of the Victor injury, I wonder if the Tigers will cave in to whatever Theo is demanding
They have to make up for lost WAR somehow!
Ben Tumbling - January 17, 2012
The way they rush their prospects, they are more likely to....joseph spelling alert
That top 3B prospect they have has a better chance of making the team now than being traded for a pitcer. They rushed Porcello, Perry, possibly Turner, we will see about him.
joeybw - January 17, 2012
How does arbitration work?
Do players in Arb3 get 100% of market value or 80%?
SandalsNoPants - January 17, 2012
In theory...
40, 60, 80% for the 3 Arby years.
ega05me - January 17, 2012
80%
BossmanJunior333 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
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