Tampa Bay Rays Avoid Arbitration With Eight
Aug 26, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb (53) pitches in the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Rays 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Rays reached deals with eight players Friday before the 1 p.m. deadline thus avoiding arbitration.
The Rays have no remaining players who are arbitration eligible.
Starter Alex Cobb got the biggest one-year as he settled for $4 million. Cobb went 10-9 in 27 starts with a 2.87 ERA in 2014.
Drew Smyly, the other Rays starter who was arbitration eligible, got $2.65 million. After coming to Tampa Bay in the David Price trade, Smyly went 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA in seven starts.
Reliever Jake McGee got $3.55 after posting a 1.89 ERA in 73 appearances.
Kevin Jepsen, who the Rays acquired in the Matt Joyce trade, settled for $3.025 million.
Newly acquired John Jaso, who hit .264 in 2014 with nine home runs, settled for $3.175 million.
Infielder Logan Forsythe got $1.1 million while catcher Rene Rivera got $1.2 million.
Desmond Jennings, who will be looking to bounce back in 2015 after a down year, settled for $3.1 million.
Jennings, McGee, Smyly, Rivera and Forsythe all received performance based bonuses in their deals. For a complete list of bonuses click here.