The Tampa Bay Rays may lose a player here or there, but they are hell-bent on keeping their best player.
The New York Daily News is reporting that the Rays and third baseman Evan Longoria have agreed on a $100 million dollar extension that will keep him with the club through 2023.
The extension incorporates the rest of his existing $36 million deal over the next four years, and adds $64 million for six seasons after that.
“We drafted Evan in 2006 with the belief that he and the organization would grow with each other and together accomplish great things,” Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement. “That is why the Rays and Evan signed a long-term contract in 2008, and it is why we are extending our commitments. Evan has clearly become a cornerstone player and a fixture in our organization. We are proud of what we have accomplished these past seven years, and I expect the best is yet to come.”
“Evan has all of the attributes we seek in a player,” Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “His determination and work ethic inspire others around him. He is devoted to his craft and strives to improve himself every year, and he defines success in terms of team performance and achievement. It’s exciting to know that Evan will be manning third base for the Rays for many years to come.”