Rays give Soriano one-year, $7.25 million deal

Posted Dec 11, 2009 by Roger Mooney

Updated Dec 11, 2009 at 02:13 PM

Rays executive VP of baseball Andrew Friedman wouldn’t comment on how Soriano’s signing would impact the Pat Burrell-for-Milton Bradley trade or what it might do the arbitration eligible players who must be tendered arbitration by midnight Saturday. Chief among those are catcher Dioner Navarro, who could get $3 million in abitration and newly acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach, who could get $2.5 million in arbitration.

Rays president Matt Silverman said owner Stuart Sternberg was being honest last week when he said there was no $7 million closer coming. But, Silverman pointed out, Sternberg also says, “Markets change,” and the market changed Monday when Soriano agreed to abitration with the Braves. The Rays could trade for Soriano and sign him without losing the draft pick they would have lost had the signed Soriano when he was a free agent.

With Soriano in the back of the bullpen, the Rays feel they are legitimate playoff contenders. In fact, both Silverman and Friedman said Friday that this is the best team the Rays have ever had on paper.