Evan Longoria Agrees to 6-Year, $100 Million Extension with Rays
Cesar Tordesillas
St. Petersburg, FL
Tampa Bay has agreed to a contract extension with third baseman Evan Longoria, adding six guaranteed years and $100 million to his existing deal and ensuring that the slugger ends his career with the Rays.
Longoria's existing contract with the Rays worth $36.6 million for four years will be incorporated into the new deal that will keep him with the team until 2022. The deal includes a club option for 2023
"It's a very exciting day for us," Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said. "For Evan to have the confidence in us, and I know the confidence that we have in him, to re-up so to speak for the long haul. This is just an enormous commitment for us."
A third overall pick by the Rays in 2006, the 27-year-old Longoria is a three-time American League All-Star, two-time Rawlings AL Gold Glove winner at third base and was the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year.
After five seasons with Tampa Bay, he already ranks second on the team's all-time list with 130 home runs, third with 456 RBIs and fourth with 161 doubles. Longoria is one of 11 active players to average at least 25 home runs and 90 RBIs over his first five seasons.
"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. It's exciting to know that Evan will be manning third base for the Rays for many years to come."
On April 18, 2008 or only six games into his Major League career, the Rays signed Longoria to a multi-year contract worth a guaranteed $17.5 million over six years and potentially $44 million over nine seasons, including the club options for 2014 through 2016.
Last season, Longoria was limited to 74 games due to a partially torn left hamstring. Despite missing more than half of the season, he hit .289 with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .369 on-base percentage and a .527 slugging percentage.
The Rays were 41-44 during Longoria's absence, but went 47-27 with him in the starting lineup. The Rays scored nearly a run more per game during his time on the active roster.
After being reinstated from the disabled list on Aug. 7, Longoria started 51 of the team's remaining 54 games. In September and October, he hit .296 with eight home runs and slugged three home runs in the regular-season finale Oct. 3 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Longoria underwent a minor procedure on his left hamstring Tuesday and is expected to be fully recovered for Spring Training.
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