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Roger Mooney
Roger Mooney covers the Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.
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Pena, Kazmir avoid arbitration
Posted Jan 18, 2008 by Marc Lancaster
Updated Jan 18, 2008 at 01:36 PM
The Rays took it to the wire but managed to come to terms with their two most significant arbitration-eligible players without going to a hearing. The Rays earlier today agreed to a three-year, $24.125-million deal with Carlos Pena that will become official when he passes a physical. They also have agreed in principle with left-hander Scott Kazmir on a one-year contract worth $3.785 million despite some pessimism that a deal would get done.
Pena would get $6 million this season, $8 million in 2009 and $10.125 million in 2010. The parties have agreed to a one-year, $6-million contract for 2008 that would serve as Pena’s deal if for some reason he doesn’t pass the physical that is a prerequisite for any long-term commitment. But assuming he does pass it, that one-year deal will be replaced by the big three-year contract. As part of the deal, Pena will donate $225,000 to the Rays Baseball Foundation.
“I’m extremely excited, I’m extremely grateful,” Pena said this morning from the Dominican Republic, where he has been working out for several weeks. “It’s a very happy day for the Pena family and I can’t tell you enough how happy we are. It’s really, really cool. I’m going to be in a place that I love and I’m going to be around people I really care about and the feeling is reciprocal. This is definitely a blessing.”
The deal is notable on both sides. It’s a huge salary commitment for the Rays that couldn’t have been foreseen when they signed Pena to a minor-league contract last Jan. 29, and the fact that Pena took a deal that buys out his last two seasons of arbitration and first season of free agency runs counter to the way his agent, Scott Boras, usually operates.
Then again, Pena is reaching that service-time threshold at a more advanced age than some other Boras clients who have gone open-market or bust in their first free-agent year. It’s doubtful Pena will ever have more leverage than he does now, in the wake of a 46-homer, 121-RBI season, and he parlayed it into a deal to stay close to his Orlando home, just as he said he wanted to do.
“Scott Boras did an unbelievable job,” said Pena. “Andrew Friedman did an unbelievable job. It was such a smooth process, the negotiations were so pleasant. That just shows you Tampa’s vision and obviously at the same token shows my interest, also, to be a Ray for a longer period of time because there’s something really, really good going on in Tampa.”
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Reader Comments
Por (gary a. babich) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
AS a die hard Rays fan I think it’s about time the ownership starts paying the market price for those that are key in making this team a possible playoff contender in a couple years.
Suggest removalEven if Pena’s numbers drop off a bit he’s still better than (90%) of the first basemen in the American League.
Por (jason martinez) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
I am thrilled that the rays stepped up and signed one of their core players. Are the rays going to the playoffs this season? Probably not. However, at least this shows the new ownership is willing to step up and pay their talent rather then let them leave.
Suggest removalPor (Kris) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Yay! Love Carlos, glad to have both his talent and his wonderful attitude on the team long-term!!
Suggest removalPor (Sue Draughn) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
This will be an exciting year!!!! As a season ticket holder, I am so happy with the changes and believe that the future is here for the Rays and their fans. Carlo Pena has been such a positive addition for this team. GO RAYS
Suggest removalPor (Matt Coker) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Great signing, and classy Pena deserves every dollar. I don’t commend this organization for much, but the fact that they dumped jerk Delmon Young’s attitude and signed Pena’s for long term says a lot about the kind of organization they want to build. The importance of having guys people WANT to cheer for can’t be overstated. It’s a good day.
Suggest removalPor (rachel colber) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
The Rays are my favorite team but and I don’t mind paying any good player their worth through Ticket sales and promotions. I do mind paying for the new OUTDOOR stadium, I will neve attend a game if it is not 72degrees inside the dome, baseball is played in the summer when it’s hot!!! In florida the temp reaches close to 95degrees everyday in the summer. My family and I plan to move away from this beautiful city to avoid the taxes the city and the game will surly incure if the new Rays stadium is going to be built. Fix up the old stadium or play better and maybe the rest of the fans and me will get behind this. Congrats Carlos you’re the best!
Suggest removalPor (CharlieRay) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
You tell’m Rachel Colber,of St Petersburg FL I’m with you. I’m a season ticket holder that will only go if we have A/C. I travel 160 miles round trip and will stay home and watch rather than endure the heat & bugs
Suggest removalPor (RICH) on January 18, 2008 (Suggest removal)
THE BLDG. OF THE RAYS FOUNDATION FOR THE PAST 10 YRS INCLUDED ROCCO, CC AND GOMES. <> THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT DECADE WITH KEY PLAYERS LIKE KAZ,SHIELDS,PENA AND UPTON TO CONTINUE BUILDING WITH THAT LOOKS EXCELLENT. <> CAN’T WAIT TO SEE[LONGO]- LONGORIA AT 3RD, WITH BARTLETT, IWAMURA & PENA AROUND THE HORN. <> LIKE TO SEE JUSTIN RUGGIANO REPLACE YOUNG IN RIGHT <> HE HAS THE ARM, HITS FOR AVERAGE AND MAY HAVE MORE POWER THAN DELMON !!!
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