Tampa Bay Rays 2009 – Sign Wheeler, Exercise Crawford Option, Decline Baldelli Option
Posted by basebal5 on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Crawford will still patrol the Tropicana Field
outfield in 2009 (Bill Richardson/BDD)
The Rays had signed Wheeler to a $2.875-million one-year contract before the season to avoid arbitration, but the new three-year deal replaces that. Wheeler will get $2.8-million this season, $3.2-million in 2009, $3.5-million in 2010 and either a $1-million buyout or a $4-million salary in 2011. He will also make a donation of at least $150,000 to team charitable foundation.
“We've worked hard to try to address our bullpen situation and we feel like Dan will be an important part of our bullpen going forward and getting important outs late in games for us,'' executive VP Andrew Friedman said. “I think he'd be the first to say last year was not a typical Dan Wheeler season and all parties agree this year and future years will be much better and he'll be an important part of our bullpen going forward.''
Wheeler, 30, started his career with the Rays and after stints with the Mets and Astros came back to Tampa Bay last July in a trade from Houston, going 0-5 with a 5.76 ERA in 25 games. He is targeted primarily for seventh-inning setup work this season, but does have 25 major-league saves. In 327 games, he is 12-26 with a 4.09 ERA.
From the Rays media relations department:
The Tampa Bay Rays exercised its 2009 contract option on left fielder Carl Crawford for $8.25 million and declined its $6 million 2009 contract option on outfielder Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli will receive a $4 million buyout.
Crawford, 26, is the longest-tenured Ray in club history, now entering his seventh season. Last year he tied for the American League lead with 50 stolen bases and totaled 93 runs, 11 home runs, 37 doubles and 80 RBI. He batted .315, establishing a single-season franchise record.
Crawford now has four 50-steal seasons and four AL stolen base crowns in his career. The lifetime .296 hitter is the Rays all-time leader in hits (991), at-bats (3,348), runs scored (491), stolen bases (278) and triples (74). Since 2003, he leads the majors with 68 triples and ranks second behind only Juan Pierre (289) with 269 stolen bases.
Baldelli, 26, has battled injuries throughout his career and was recently placed on the 60-day disabled list with Mitochondrial disorder, which affects the recovery time of his muscles. He played 35 games in 2007 before a hamstring injury ended his season.
Entering 2008, Baldelli ranked among Rays career leaders in batting average (.282, fifth); hits (467, seventh); home runs (48, sixth); RBI (221, fifth); doubles (89, seventh); triples (17, third); stolen bases (58, fifth); runs scored (243, sixth); extra-base hits (154, sixth); at-bats (1,656, eighth); and games played (419, eighth). The Rays selected Baldelli sixth overall in the first round of the 2000 June Draft out of Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island.
Rays Anatomy comments:
With the fragile arms of Al Reyes and Troy Percival at the back end of the bullpen this year the deal is worth it. Scott Linebrink received a four-year, $19 million contract and is basically the same pitcher. The back end of the deal meaning 2010 and the option on 2011 could be the real bargain.
With Reyes on a one year contract and Percival not promised to make it through the 2008 season, let alone 2009, Wheeler could very well be the Rays closer for part or, almost all, of the contract. Given the current closer's market where Francisco Cordero received $12 Million a year for four years and Eric Gagne one year $10 Million, a closer making around $3.5-$4 Million a year is an absolute steal.
