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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay 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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Rays pickup options on Shields, Farnsworth but not Shoppach

Posted Oct 31, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Oct 31, 2011 at 06:02 PM

ROGER MOONEY

As expected, the Rays picked up the options on James Shields and Kyle Farnsworth and declined the option on Kelly Shoppach, paying the catcher a $300,000 buyout.

“I’m glad the waiting is over,” Shields said. “I had a feeling they were going to pick it up, but it’s good to know.”

Shields, whose career-season included a career-high 16 wins, a major league-leading 11 complete games and four shutouts, tied for the most in the AL, will make $7.5 million in 2012.

“You just never know in this game,” Shields said. “You never know that the team is thinking or what they’re going to do.”

Farnsworth, who had a career-high 25 saves, will make $3.3 million next season.

The Rays, who held a $3.2 million option on Shoppach for 2012, have not ruled out the possibility of resigning the catcher.