The Rays and Scott Kazmir have agreed to terms on a contract extension at least through 2011, with the team holding an option for 2012. The deal, which begins next season, guarantees Kazmir at least $28.5 million and could be worth up to $39.5 million.
The contract breaks down like this:
2009 - $6 million
2010 - $8 million
2011 - $12 million
2012 option - $13.5 million (or $2.5 million buyout)
“It’s something that we’ve been working hard to do over the past couple of years and it’s something that, as we continue to win games and play in October, we envision Scott anchoring the staff for us,” said Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman.
Kazmir said after avoiding arbitration and agreeing to a one-year, $3.875-million deal for 2008 in January that he wanted to see more from the Rays before locking into a long-term deal. Between the team’s moves to lock up James Shields, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria and Dan Wheeler and the way the team has played this season, he apparently has seen enough.
“I think for the four years that I’ve been here, we’ve seen a lot of changes,” said Kazmir, “and I think this past offseason we really addressed a lot of issues that needed to be addressed.”
The new deal, which doesn’t supercede the 2008 contract Kazmir signed in January, buys out at least one of Kazmir’s free-agent seasons, 2011. By picking up the option, the Rays would keep him off the market for at least another year.
“We envision it being a series of contracts that keeps Scott in this uniform for a long time,” said Friedman.
Asked if he thought about the amount of money he might be leaving on the table compared to what he could get on the open market as a free agent, Kazmir shrugged it off.
“I really didn’t put too much into that,” he said. “I knew from coming into spring training this year that this is the place that I wanted to be, this is the place that I wanted to play for. I wanted to win and play in October in Tampa Bay. I’m just happy that we got everything accomplished and now it’s just going out there and winning ballgames.”
And furthermore:
“It’s not about the money,” Kazmir said. “It’s about me being comfortable and just loving to play the game. I love being here with all the teammates I have, the coaching staff, the front office – everything.”
Kazmir, acquired in midseason 2004 from the Mets, is already the Rays’ all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, starts and innings pitched.
His next scheduled start is Thursday night against the Yankees.
I should mention that the legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee—profiled in Sunday’s Tribune by Martin Fennelly—is in attendance tonight and spoke to the Rays behind closed doors before they took the field for batting practice. He lives in the area now and is working with another local resident, 45-year-old Hector “Macho” Camacho, who apparently is coming back. Camacho was bouncing around the field and the Rays’ clubhouse sporting a Carlos Pena jersey. And I do mean bouncing. Man’s got some energy.
Back to the boring procedural stuff for a moment: Apparently the terminology on the Evan Meek move mentioned below is that the Rays rejected the return of Meek by the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations—but technically speaking, it isn’t a trade. However you slice it, the Rays got some money from the Pirates and allowed them to hold onto the reliever.
Also on that front, Nathan Haynes—designated for assignment last Friday—has cleared waivers. The Rays are waiting to hear whether he will accept an outright assignment to Durham.
And perhaps we’ve got something else to chew on. The Rays just announced that they will be making an announcement about something at 6:45. So stay tuned.
In the meantime, the lineups:
Yankees
Damon LF
Abreu RF
Jeter SS
Giambi 1B
Matsui DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Ensberg 3B
Molina C
Mussina P
Rays
Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Longoria 3B
Floyd DH
Navarro C
Gross RF
Bartlett SS
Shields P
By BILL MILLER
Tarpon fishing on this last new moon at the Sunshine Skyway was red hot. Anglers anchoring uptide of the bridge and free-lining large greenbacks near the pilings were rewarded with multiple hookups. Braided line in at least the 50-pound class is recommended to lessen the chance of a cutoff if the tarpon heads for the pilings. It can get crowded out there, so be courteous and give fellow anglers room to fish.
If you like “bumper car” tarpon fishing, try the “new-school” jigging method used by daytime anglers in Boca Grande Pass. It is not uncommon to see two or more boats getting their lines tangled and tarpon sometimes jumping in boats. Fishing the pass using the “old-school” traditional live-bait method is less stressful, but it will keep you up late. Both styles have been producing fish.
A few kingfish can still be caught. The Egmont ship channel has been the most consistent spot. Artificial reefs like the South County, Indian Shores, Rube Allyn and Dunedin will still produce a fish or two if the bait is there.
Trout, redfish and snook are at their best right now and should stay that way for the next few months. Good catches on artifical and live bait have been reported along the mangrove edges and grass flats.
Captain Bill Miller hosts “Hooked on Fishing” on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. on Bright House Networks Catch 47.
The Rays didn’t seem to know quite what to make of Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner’s comments over the last 24 hours that he wished his team played more like Tampa Bay.
Steinbrenner made those assertions to the New York Post last night and reiterated most of them to the Associated Press today.
Among his gems: “No question, the Rays are a hungry team. That’s what our team has to get back.”
Apprised of his comments this afternoon, even the most outspoken Rays seemed at a loss for words
“That’s nothing but a compliment,” said Jonny Gomes, who later added: “I just think it’s a pat on our back from the Boss.”
Said Carl Crawford: “We’ll take the compliment and keep playing hard. As far as having a comment on what he said, I don’t have no comment on that.”
Even Joe Maddon wouldn’t touch this one:
“I heard about that,” he said with a sly smile. “That’s very complimentary and I appreciate the good words.”
Told that Steinbrenner had also said “I’m happy for them, but I wish they were in the National League,” Maddon asked if he had really said that, smiled again, and sighed.
“Listen, it’s May 14th. Long ways to go. Just win tonight’s game, that’s all we’re trying to do.”
Crawford, at least, decided to step up to the plate momentarily when told that Steinbrenner wished the Rays were in the NL.
“Yeah?” said Crawford. “Man, for the last six years I’ve been wishing they were in another league.”
Just a quick transaction: The Rays have completed a deal that allows the Pirates to keep Rule 5 draft pick Evan Meek in their system, accepting cash considerations from Pittsburgh in return for the reliever.
Meek was designated for assignment 10 days ago and cleared waivers, leaving the Pirates to work out a trade with the Rays if they wanted to retain the right-hander.
Wharton junior strong safety Jairus Jones picked up two scholarship offers this week, one from Florida Atlantic and the other Nebraska, Wharton coach David Mitchell said.
Jones (6-foot-2, 210) had 89 tackles last season with one interception. At running back, he had 60 carries for 332 yards and three TDs.
“It’s the first of many,” Mitchell said.
Jones is the first player on Wharton’s active roster to receive an offer.
Notre Dame Prep G Gaby Belardo and Pratt (Kan.) Community College sophomore C Alex Rivas Sanchez signed with the University of South Florida Wednesday.
And Wednesday evening, the Bulls picked up a commitment from Teeng Akol, a 6-foot-10 center who spent the past season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton. Akol, from the Sudan, did not return calls seeking comment.
Both Belardo and Rivas Sanchez had previously verbally committed to USF, although Rivas Sanchez said when he announced his commitment May 1 he wasn’t sure he would sign with USF.
“I’m excited to add two quality players to our roster this late in recruiting,” USF coach Stan Heath said in a statement. “Gaby has really come on during the spring AAU season. His ability to play either guard position, as well as shoot, handle the ball, and make decisions will be an asset to our basketball team on the perimeter. Alex is an active player with very good size. Our concern with lack of size last year should be addressed with Alex as well as some of the other new players coming into the fold.”
Belardo (6-2, 190), Rivas Sanchez (6-10, 230) and Akol (after he officially signs) join USF’s incoming recruiting class with PG Dwan McMillan, C/F Eugene Teague Jr. and F Eladio Espinosa. Also, G Mike Mercer, who transfered from Georgia last year, will be eligible for USF in December.
The Rays finally activated Al Reyes from the 15-day disabled list today, making room for him by designating Scott Dohmann for assignment.
This was a tough call for the Rays, who like what Dohmann has done despite a couple of rough outings recently that have kicked his ERA up to 6.14. They can only hope he’ll clear waivers in a world that always needs reliable relievers and agree to report to Durham.
“I know they’d love to keep me – I’d love to stay,” said Dohmann. “But the fact of the matter is I have to go through waivers and we all know how that process works.”
Dohmann, 30, pitched well for the Rays after joining the bullpen midway through last season. He went 3-0 with a 3.31 ERA in 31 games and beat out Grant Balfour for the last bullpen spot this spring. His most notable performances this season came in the Rays’ sweep of the Red Sox at Tropicana Field a couple of weeks ago, when he picked up victories the first two nights by getting David Ortiz to ground into an inning-ending double play one night and striking out Manny Ramirez the following evening.
“We’ll wait and see what the next few days bring,” said Dohmann. “It’s a fun game, but at the same time there’s a business side of it, and there’s only one way to move in this game and that’s forward. That’s where we’re going to move, no matter what happens.”
Molly Hamrick of Plant High, who represented the U.S. Junior National Rowing team last year at the World Championships in Beijing, China, has again been named to the junior national team selection camp. She has been joined by Plant Varsity 8 teammate Elizabeth Murray and Hillsborough High’s Katie Burke, who will both compete for places on the team to compete July 22-27 in Linz/Ottensheim, Austria.
Burke has had a standout season in her first season rowing single sculls for the Terriers, adding the Southeast District Championships title last weekend to her state title and her title from the Head of the Hooch. She will compete at the Scholastic National Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. next Friday and Saturday.
Plant’s Varsity 8 crew, including Hamrick and Murray, finished second in the Southeast Championships, and had earlier qualified for the Scholastic National Championships.
Hamrick won a bronze medal in the World Junior Championships last year as the U.S. finished third in the Junior Women’s 8.
Robinson senior defensive back Andrew Hall has signed with Division II Southwest Baptist College, Knights coach Mike DePue said Wednesday.
Hall was one of the Knights’ top defenders as a senior, finishing with 48 tackles and one interception. He also led Robinson with 240 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Tallahassee North Florida Christian DE/LB Chase Griffiths verbally committed to the University of South Florida, Rivals.com reported.
Last season as a junior, Griffiths (6-2, 216) had more than 100 tackles and three sacks.
He is USF’s second commitment, joining Dunedin RB Adaris Bellamy.
TAMPA - When the Buc returned to the practice field for their fifth “voluntary workout of the offseason Wednesday, running back Earnest Graham wasn’t with them. Graham won’t say precisely why he wasn’t there, but you can pretty much guess the reason.
Graham, who is seeking a contract extension much like disgruntled quarterback Jeff Garcia, has obviously been advised by his agent to take a different approach to the matter than Garcia has.
Instead of showing up and participating in workouts the way Garcia is, Graham has been advised to sit out in an effort to reduce the risk of injury, which could really cut into his bargaining power. And unlike Garcia, Graham has also been advised not to talk about the situation.
“I’ve been advised not to comment on the situation,’’ Graham said earlier today. “I talked the last time about it and I probably shouldn’t have. I just can’t comment on it right now.’’
That “last time’’ that Graham refers to was last month, after Graham failed to show for the first round of “voluntary workouts. Back then, Graham said the contract issue was not the reason for his absence. He said he was simply taking the time to be with his family and that he planned to participate in the next round of workouts, “after the draft.’’
Graham didn’t make any such promise Wednesday. When asked if he’ll be around One Buc Place for the next round of workouts he said with a sigh, “I don’t know, man; I really don’t know.’’
You get the feeling Graham would really like to be there but that he realizes he has to do what’s best for him. And if that means sitting out, it looks like he’ll continue to sit out. After all, this is his best chance yet to cash in on his talent.
Coming off a season in which he fell just short of the 1,000-yard rushing mark while producing more than 1,000 total yards, Graham has obviously earned the right to seek a raise of the $605,000 he’s slated to make in 2008. He also wants some security to go with that, so he’s likly looking for a three-, four- or five-year deal that pays him like the workhorse he was in 2007.
The Buc, on the other hand, have to be sure not to overpay Graham, who was little more than a special teams standout before last season. It’s a difficult position for the Buc, and it’s hard to tell at this point of a solution is anywhere near.
Not only did tonight’s Rays victory combined with Baltimore’s win over Boston catapult Tampa Bay into first place, the Rays also own the best record in the American League after tonight’s proceedings.
At 23-16 (.590), the Rays moved ahead of the Red Sox and the A’s (who lost at Cleveland) for the top spot in the entire league. Pretty remarkable stuff at this point in the season, considering where this team has come from.
Joe Maddon continues to try to downplay the gaudy numbers his team is piling up, but even he acknowledged that the Rays find themselves in a pleasant position at the moment.
“It’s wonderful, it’s great to be here, and a big part of it is the confidence that’s derived from it,” said Maddon. “You talk to our guys right now and they like this a lot, obviously – we all do.”
How did it come to this for the Rays? Mariano Rivera had the answer to that one in the Yankees’ clubhouse, as relayed by my colleague Martin Fennelly.
“Pitching,” said Rivera. “They have the pitching, they’re making plays, and they run. But the pitching is the most important thing.”
Rays starters have a 1.11 ERA over their last seven games and haven’t allowed a run in five of the last six games.
And how about J.P. Howell? The innings he has been eating up, particularly in tonight’s game and the 13-inning victory at Toronto last week, have been absolute black holes in the past. Before, the Rays would have to just roll the dice and pray with whoever they had left sitting around out in the bullpen. Now they know they can feel pretty confident that they’ll get at least a couple of good innings out of Howell, and that’s what he gave them again tonight.
As for Gabe Gross getting the game-winning hit off Rivera, who hadn’t allowed a run all season? Well, you can’t count on that becoming a regular occurrence.
“You don’t see that very often, Mariano getting beat like that – he’s too great,” said Troy Percival. “But it happens sometimes.”
Not to the Rays, at least before this season. Now they believe not only that they can win games like this, but that they will. That certainly has not been the case before.
“It’s just big to win that game,” Gross said. “Jackson just pitched his heart out and you don’t want to let pitching performances like that go unrewarded. We needed to win that game.”
University of South Florida cross country coach Melissa Miller resigned Tuesday, the same day the school self-reported two secondary NCAA violations in Miller’s program.
According to documents sent to the NCAA, Miller recruited distance runner Adam Hortian to the track team with the offer of “highly recommending” him for a 2008-09 graduate assistant coaching position that did not exist. Also, Hortian illegally ran for USF during the outdoor season after accepting prize money at a February road race in St. Petersburg.
The school’s investigation was prompted by inquiries from The Tampa Tribune.
Hortian said he transferred from Iona to USF with one year of eligibility remaining because he was promised the GA position.
Hortian received a letter on May 30, 2007, purportedly signed by head track coach Warren Bye and Miller stating they would “highly recommend” him for the position and describing a job that offered a “full-time graduate tuition waiver and $15,000 annual stipend.”
Miller sent both documents to Hortian without Bye’s knowledge and forged his signature, USF assistant athletic director Chris Freet said.
Initially, USF senior associate AD Barry Clements believed the job description document “was bogus” and created by Hortian, until he was presented the accompanying recommendation letter by a Tribune reporter.
On Feb. 23, Hortian won the Suncoast Classic’s 10-kilometer race. He said he collected the $600 first prize by having the check made out to his girlfriend.
Hortian said he knew he was breaking NCAA rules by accepting the prize money, but did so with Miller’s knowledge.
“I had to pay the rent,” Hortian said.
Miller said she “knew nothing” about Hortian accepting money. However, she told the Tribune last week that Hortian told her of a way he could accept the money in another person’s name.
“He had an idea to race and have the prize money in someone else’s name,” Miller said.
Miller did not notify USF’s compliance office of Hortian’s plan. She spoke to Hortian after the race and knew he won, but said she did not know he took the money.
Competing for USF this spring, Hortian ran in four meets between March 21 and April 19. Because he competed illegally, USF informed the NCAA it would delete Hortian from the school’s track and field record books.
Bye, who hired Miller as cross country coach and assistant track coach, refused to comment. Miller came to USF in 2006 after one year as an assistant at Saginaw Valley State.
Lockwood suffers broken finger: USF freshman OF Ryan Lockwood, who owns the nation’s longest hitting streak at 30 games, suffered a broken left index finger Saturday against St. John’s. Lockwood, of Jesuit, will not bat the rest of the season, but is available for pinch running duty.
The Bulls, who lost at Florida 12-2 Tuesday, close the regular season at home with three games against Notre Dame starting Thursday.
Tampa Bay Storm defensive back Traco Rachal was named the league’s defensive player of the week after his performance in the Storm’s 41-37 victory over New Orleans on Friday.
Rachal registered 12.5 tackles and notched a game-clinching interception on the final play of the game to help the Storm get back into the playoff picture.
Tampa Bay (4-6) returns to the field Friday when the Storm face the Grand Rapids Rampage (3-7) on the road.
In other Storm news, the team again signed Daryon Brutley to the active roster and placed defensive back Byron Jones on injured reserve. Brutley was waived late last week to make room for Jones, who was activated from injured reserve to replace Brutley for last Friday’s win over New Orleans. However, Jones suffered a hamstring injury in that victory and was forced back to injured reserve.
In addition, the team signed defensive back Scott Cunningham to the practice squad.
Offensive lineman Kenyatta Jones (calf) was ruled out for Friday’s game, and Brutley (concussion) also may not be able to play for the second consecutive week, meaning Cunningham could see the field if Tampa Bay decides to carry four defensive backs.
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