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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 sign Shoppach to two-year deal

Posted Jan 5, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Jan 5, 2010 at 05:12 PM

The Tampa Bay Rays signed catcher Kelly Shoppach today to a two-year, $5.55 million deal with an option year in 2012.

Shoppach, acquired Dec. 1 for pitcher Mitch Tolbert, avoided arbitration by agreeing to the contract.

The deal calls for Shoppach to receive $2.5 million this season and $3 million in 2011. The option year calls for a $3.2 million salary with a $300,000 buyout. There is also an escalator that could increase the 2012 salary to $4 million and the buyout to $500,000.

The Rays also avoided arbitration with catcher Dioner Navarro when Navarro agreed to a one-year, $2.1 million contract, meaning they have committed nearly $5 million to their catchers this season.

Both vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon have said they like the idea of having two experienced catchers, though Maddon said he won’t know how he will divide the playing time until spring training.

Signing Shoppach could make Navarro a trade option, and several teams have shown interest in the 2008 All-Star.