Randy Arozarena signs with the Rays for one more year, doubling his previous salary.
8 players signed contracts.
Eight players have signed contracts with the Tampa Bay Rays, including Cuban Randy Arozarena and the injured Shane McClanahan. Avoid price arbitrage.
Arozarena, who earned $4.15 million last year, will earn $8.1 million in 2024 after an impressive season as an American League All-Star. His 2023 stats include a .254 average, 23 home runs, 83 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
McClanahan signed a two-year, $7.2 million contract that will pay him $3.6million per year, even though he underwent a second Tommy John. surgery in August 2023 and is not expected to return until 2025. Last season, McClanahan showed his prowess, going 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 21 starts.
The Rays still have two players slated for next month’s draft, right-hander Jason Adam and pitcher Harold Ramirez.
Last season, Tampa Bay had four shutouts, including wins over left-hander Colin Poche and right-hander Ryan Thompson, but lost to Ramirez and Poche.
Adam’s right-hand man is asking for $3.25 million, while Lightning is asking for $2.7 million. Ramirez, who won the 2023 arbitration case and was paid $2.2 million, asked for $4.3 million and Tampa Bay asked for $3.8 million.
Rays roster expansion
Tampa Bay expanded its roster by signing Japanese right-handed pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa, signing him to a minor league contract and inviting him to major league spring camp. Uwasawa posted 9 wins, 9 losses and a 2.96 ERA for Nippon Ham last season.
Also signed to one-year contracts were right-handers Aaron Civale, Shawn Armstrong, Zack Littell, Drew Rasmussen (started the season on the injured list after elbow surgery), Colin Poche and Mexican shortstop Isaac Paredes. Civale 4.9 million, Armstrong 2.05million, Littell 1.85million, Rasmussen 1,865,000, Poche 2,375,000 and Paredes 3.4million..
