Rays decline Floyd, Miller options

Posted Nov 3, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Nov 3, 2008 at 05:03 PM

The Rays have declined their 2009 options on Cliff Floyd and Trever Miller, making both veterans free agents.

Floyd’s option would have paid him $2.75 million, but the Rays chose a $250,000 buyout instead. Miller’s option was for $2 million, the buyout $400,000. Those two join Rocco Baldelli and Eric Hinske in the free-agent ranks.

This isn’t necessarily the end of the line with the Rays for either; depending on how the market unfolds in the coming months, you might see either or both back in Tampa Bay. Talked to Floyd a while ago and he said he’d definitely be open to that possibility, should it arise.

“Nothing has been ruled out in terms of maybe renegotiating anything,” Floyd said. “They know where I stand, and if the situation presents self and I was going to be a part of it, call me and let’s discuss it. If not, it wouldn’t be the last time it happens to a player. You just keep it moving.”

Floyd has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and said during the World Series that he would retire if surgery was necessary to fix it. Today, though, Floyd said he would go ahead and get the shoulder repaired and rehabbed—about a three-month process—if a team showed “100 percent interest” in him for next season. Given the recovery timetable involved, though, that would have to happen quickly.

The Rays cleared an additional 40-man spot by outrighting Michel Hernandez, who has cleared waivers, to Durham.