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Wheeler gets 1-year deal


The Rays have agreed to terms with veteran reliever Dan Wheeler on a one-year deal, reducing their slate of unsigned arbitration-eligible players to three. Wheeler is guaranteed $2.875 million and can earn an additional $25,000 if he makes 65 appearances in 2008.

Wheeler, who turned 30 last month, is expected to play a key setup role in the Rays’ bullpen, teaming with Al Reyes to help get the ball to new closer. He made $2.1 million last season, which he split between Houston (1-4, 5.07 ERA, 11 saves in 45 relief appearances) and Tampa Bay (0-5, 5.76 ERA in 25 relief appearances). The Rays acquired him from the Astros on July 28 in exchange for Ty Wigginton.

The Rays still are trying to hammer out agreements, whether one-year or multi-year, with Scott Kazmir, Carlos Pena and Jonny Gomes before the Friday deadline to exchange arbitration figures. If the parties get that far without a resolution, it’s the Rays’ policy to end negotiations at that point and go to an arbitration hearing. They would prefer not to go that route, and executive vice president Andrew Friedman said last week he was optimistic the team could reach a deal with all of its arbitration-eligible players before the deadline.

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Posted by  R.J., Tampa on 01/16  at  04:58 PM

Arbitration just means a player has more than 3 years of service time but less than six. Pena isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2009 season and Kazmir in 2010.


Posted by  RICH, TAMPA on 01/16  at  07:51 AM

WELL MARC HERE WE GO AGAIN! HOPE 2008 TURNS OUT GREAT FOR THE RAYS// OVER 80 WINS <> I WAS HOPING THEY WOULD NOT WAIT TILL THE LAST DAY TO SIGN THEIR TOP PLAYERS [KAZ/PENA]<> HOW THEY HANDLE THIS WILL TELL US A LOT ABOUT OWNERSHIP AND I HOPE THEY DO IT RIGHT!<> I SUPPOSE GOING TO ARBITRATION MEANS THEY ARE FREE AGENTS AFTER ONE YEAR? <> LET GOMES TRY ARBITRATION BUT NOT THE OTHER 2. <> PLUS, THEY SHOULD HAVE ALREADY INFORMED US THAT LONGORIA IS THE REGULAR GUY AT 3RD !


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