Rays sign Kazmir for 4 years

[Crazysilver03]

Rays agreed to terms with LHP Scott Kazmir on a three-year, $28.5 million contract with a club option for 2012.

The Rays buy out his first year of free agency and get an option for the second. Signing Kazmir is perhaps the riskiest move the Rays have ever made, given the potential for more arm problems, but it's not like they were ever going to come up with a suitable replacement in free agency if they opted to let him go. At this price, it doesn't seem like a bad investment.

So the three years are probably something like:

2nd arbitration: 8.5M

3rd arbitration:9.5M

1st free agency: 10.5M

2nd free agency: 13M

Gutsy move by Tampa. They are showing that they want to win.

[Sports Guy]

Well, we could expect to be able to give DCab something a little less than this.

[Mackus]

Well, we could expect to be able to give DCab something a little less than this.

I would think considerably less than that, 20% less or so, at least if its a 3-year deal. I think this deal makes the numbers we've been throwing out there seem quite high. Cabrera's not the injury risk Kazmir is but he also doesn't have nearly as good of a track record.

[Moose Milligan]

Looks like Tampa knows what they're doing. First Longoria, then Kazmir...

Sigh...

[Sports Guy]

I would think considerably less than that, 20% less or so, at least if its a 3-year deal. I think this deal makes the numbers we've been throwing out there seem quite high. Cabrera's not the injury risk Kazmir is but he also doesn't have nearly as good of a track record.

Yea..Kazmir makes 1 million more this year than DCab does...That is a huge difference long term.

[Frobby]

Tampa's going for the Cleveland model. Good for them!

[aggro5288]

Brewers just signed Braun to 8 years, $45 million

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