St. Petersburg mayor Ken Welch announced this morning he’s selected the Rays’ proposed plan for redevelopment of St. Petersburg’s Gas Plant District (link via Colleen Welch of the Tampa Bay Times). The Rays had partnered with real estate development firm Hines for a proposed project, one of four such proposals submitted to the St. Petersburg Mayor’s Office in early … [Read more...] about Rays’ Proposed Stadium Redevelopment Plan Receives Support Of St. Petersburg Mayor
Rays Close To Contract Extension With Yandy Diaz
The Rays and infielder Yandy Diaz are close to finalizing a contract extension, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (Twitter link). The deal is a three-year, $24MM pact that contains a club option for the 2026, according to Feinsand and his MLB.com colleague Juan Toribio (via Twitter). Diaz is represented by ACES. The extension would cover Diaz’s final two years of arbitration … [Read more...] about Rays Close To Contract Extension With Yandy Diaz
Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension
The Rays announced Friday afternoon they’ve signed reliever Pete Fairbanks to a three-year extension with a 2026 club option. The deal buys out his three remaining seasons of arbitration eligibility, while the club option covers what would’ve been his first free-agent season. Fairbanks, a client of Republik Sports, is reportedly guaranteed $12MM over the next three seasons … [Read more...] about Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension
Rays, Jaime Schultz Agree To Minor League Deal
The Rays are signing reliever Jaime Schultz to a minor league deal, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He’ll be in big league camp as a non-roster invitee. Schultz has plenty of familiarity with the Tampa Bay organization. He began his professional career as a Rays draftee in 2013. Within a few seasons, he garnered some prospect attention as a potential high-leverage … [Read more...] about Rays, Jaime Schultz Agree To Minor League Deal
Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs
The Rays announced they’ve signed left-hander Jeffrey Springs to a four-year contract extension. Springs, who’s represented by Ryan Ware of Alliance Sports Management, will be guaranteed $31MM over the course of the deal but there’s also incentives and a $15MM club option for 2027 with a $750K buyout. If Springs hits all the incentives and Cy Young award escalators and the club … [Read more...] about Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs
Aaron Slegers Announces Retirement
Aaron Slegers announced his retirement from baseball on his personal Twitter account last week, citing an “ongoing shoulder injury” that has led to him “calling it a career” at age 30. Slegers was selected by the Twins in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Indiana University and went on to make his big league debut with Minnesota in 2017 before then bouncing between … [Read more...] about Aaron Slegers Announces Retirement
Rays Continuing To Explore Market For Offensive Help
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander told reporters during his season-closing press conference back in October that the club wanted to add a big bat this winter — particularly of the left-handed-hitting variety — after Tampa Bay’s offense managed to score only one run over 24 innings in that marathon two-game Wild Card Series ouster versus the Guardians. Rays … [Read more...] about Rays Continuing To Explore Market For Offensive Help
AL East Notes: Guerrero, Sale, Rays
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays “haven’t had the conversations yet” this winter about a multi-year extension, the slugger tells Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and other reporters. Guerrero didn’t sound overly concerned about the lack of talks, saying “I’m going to stay focused on working hard and let my team take care of that.” The idea of a long-term deal between Guerrero … [Read more...] about AL East Notes: Guerrero, Sale, Rays
Rays Sign Heath Hembree, Ben Heller, Zack Burdi To Minor League Deals
The Rays have signed three righties to minor league deals, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Heath Hembree, Ben Heller and Zack Burdi will all receive invitations to major league Spring Training. Hembree, 34, is easily the most experienced of the bunch. He’s appeared in each of the past 10 major league seasons, getting into 357 games over his career thus far. He had … [Read more...] about Rays Sign Heath Hembree, Ben Heller, Zack Burdi To Minor League Deals