Rays Sign RHP Wade Davis to Long Term Deal

by Erik Hahmann on Mar 31, 2011 11:40 AM EDT

Per Mark Topkin's Twitter feed,

Rayssign RHP Wade Davis to long-term deal- could go 7 years, be worth $35.1M. First 4 are guaranteed, worth $12.6M

This is not a surprising move considering the Rays history of locking up their young players to long-term contracts. The team holds club options for '15/'16/'17. This deal buys out all of his arbitration years (2013-2015) as well as his first two years of free agency. The team is protected by the fact they can buy out the options (costs and details forthcoming from the team at a later time). Simply put, this is a great deal for both sides as it sets the young Davis up for life with guaranteed millions and allows the Rays to control costs moving forward much like they did with James Shields before him.

Andrew Friedman's comments, according to JB Long:

"We fully acknowledge that it's a risk...He wants to be here and we want him to be here. Important to get it done before the season and not let it be a distraction...we had a deadline for Opening Day."

Wade Davis adds:

"I was definitely surprised. It doesn't seem to happen a lot in baseball. It was a huge compliment...I perform better when I relax. I think it will push more in a good direction, more than anything else."

Per MLBTR that spoke with Davis' agent, the deal is breaks down as:

2011: $1.0M
2012: $1.5M
2013: $2.8M
2014: $4.8M
2015: $7.0M
2016: $8.0M
2017: $10.0M

The Rays have a $2.5M buyout for the option years; it is unclear at this time what the qualifiers are on the option years and if they all have to be picked up at once or whether they are handled on a year by year basis.

.. We'll have more to come soon.

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Comments

My first reaction was WTF

But the money seems good and the last three years being club options is obviously a huge plus

Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Mar 31, 2011 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder if this is Friedman's only yearly extension winner

Seems to be one every year.

Woo for long-term contract. Double woo for the fact that his first 4yrs are the equivalent to Kazmir’s final year this year, LOL.

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

I was wondering the same thing

I suspected the FO would look to extend some of its young guys as part of the re-allocation of funds this year. Opening day payroll is down to about $41M so it’s an excellent time to lock in young, core players to team friendly deals. I love this for the Rays, especially with the 3 option years. Good risk for a guy with roughly 200 ML innings to his credit who projects as a topline starter. And it gives Davis security and peace of mind.

by MikeB. on Mar 31, 2011 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Great deal

No bothering with arbitration and got him for his first 2 FA years.

Under construction

by joeybw on Mar 31, 2011 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I want something like this for Price - glad it wasn't for Niemann

His health history scares me, but for Davis this is fantastic for both parties.

by Jason Collette on Mar 31, 2011 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

Niemann is too tall for an extension

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I laughed.

by Lurch's Lobbyists on Mar 31, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

If we could get three option years for D.P. I'd probably...well, I don't know what I would do.

(kericr, feel free to come up with something creative here)

where are my gifs? is this a new thread? you guys are litl fucking sluts. uck you guys. i bet you guys tmpons in the womines bathromms and pay 75 cents for each ne. fuck you

by daveh33 on Sep 3, 2010 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Mar 31, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

If we could get 3 option years for DP, I'd give him all his stolen shit back.

Proof Matthan admitted he was wrong: http://www.draysbay.com/2011/3/18/2058018/ottotd-for-3-18-2011-thursday-night-t-v#61697767

by kericr on Mar 31, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

We need to lock up Price...

I like this deal for us, and maybe it sets the bar for where Price’s long-term contract should be (above this one). I’d like to see a similar 4 with option for 7 year deal with $25 – $30 million guaranteed in the first 4, with possibility of being worth $75m – $85 over seven for Price.

by ZBW on Mar 31, 2011 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

Time passed for us to lock Price up cheap after he won 19 games.

His extension is likely not something the Rays would pay anyone

Under construction

by joeybw on Mar 31, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

by GrayhawkAZ on Mar 31, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree as well

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Not just that they couldn't afford it

but that they would be better off spending that money elsewhere

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

People said the same thing about Kazmir.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

"R.J. Anderson says Price will break down like Kazmir"

Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Mar 31, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Only star quality player we haven't re-signed under the new group is Upton.

And they tried when he was in the minors and they weren’t even in full control yet.

Garza too, I guess, but I’m not sure they ever tried.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

They probably tried to sign Garza if they wanted to during Arb1

And didn’t get anywhere.

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure that's true, but I tend to assume that if it made sense, it would've gotten done.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

That's why it didn't go anywhere

Didn’t make enough sense for the team especially with all the pitching in the minors. Better to devote $$$ elsewhere.

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Took Kaz/s scare for him to bite though no?

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Mar 31, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do you think they had Price live with Evan this spring?

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Well played

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Mar 31, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm still a big fan of Davis

And he’s a potential break-out candidate for me. Like Price did, in his first full season Davis struggled a bit. I expect him to be much better this year (though projecting anything near what price did last year is just silly), and he could challenge for the number 2 spot in the rotation by the all star break.

Great signing for the rays

by behn on Mar 31, 2011 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

So, Davis has five years of team-control left.

It’s something like $1M, $1M, $4M, $6.5M through his second arb year. Seems about right, although the Rays have guaranteed that money.

Options are for $22.5M. Not sure how they break out, but let’s go with $6M, $7.5M, $9M. First one would be an arb year anyway, so the option isn’t a win, but the likely price IS. Then two option years at potentially very good prices.

This isn’t as sick as the Longoria deal (no first-born child requirement) but definitely a good move for the Rays. They do pick up some risk, but the likely rewards is definitely worth it. More than an extra 2% here. Probably more like 4-5%.

@Sky_Kalkman

by Sky Kalkman on Mar 31, 2011 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

More money up front than Shields got

Less in back-end options, but likely similar in structure. Not sure if that 1st option would be less than his final guaranteed year though

by Jason Collette on Mar 31, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I see Price signing an extension with us eventually

I have given up on Upton though

by raysrule44 on Mar 31, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think we can afford Price

Hope I’m wrong

www.DRaysBay.com

by Erik Hahmann on Mar 31, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Not for this asking price... But we still have plenty of years of Price

And then Moore, Archer will all be up and in the rotation by then

by GrayhawkAZ on Mar 31, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

5 years 50 mill outta do it

by raysrule44 on Mar 31, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

That's too much

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

not if we trade him 3 years into the deal

by pudieron89 on Mar 31, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Salary Dump

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

What?

by mr. maniac on Mar 31, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

We have him under team control for how much longer?

How many years would a 5 year deal even buy out?

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

They had a Opening Day deadline for this deal

Cutting that one a bit close

Under construction

by joeybw on Mar 31, 2011 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

by benderbrodriguez on Mar 31, 2011 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

I don't even like Wade Davis that much but this looks great

by benderbrodriguez on Mar 31, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Only need an extension for BJ and I'll be literally the happiest kid

by benderbrodriguez on Mar 31, 2011 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's lock up Matt Moore long term now

Can you do that for minor leaguers?

by raysrule44 on Mar 31, 2011 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

If he isn't wild early in the season I would so be for this

Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Mar 31, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

He is the best minor league pitcher for the Rays I have seen

I saw Price, Hellickson, Davis when they were in Single A and he was by far the most dominant.

by raysrule44 on Mar 31, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Too many variables in pitching

The risk of locking someone up longterm is higher then for a position player.

It’s not like we wouldn’t control these guys for a good chunk of their careers anyway

I'm an F18, Bro

by Sveet on Mar 31, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I've never seen it

But I doubt the MLBPA would complain.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Mar 31, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Without putting any thought into I absolutely love it

Great message to the fans, the media, Wade now let’s hope for health and effectiveness through the life of the deal. The best part is that the deal seems so nice that his trade value is increased even higher as teams know what they are going to have to pay if they were looking to acquire him.

This is my serious username

Follow me: @SandyKazmir, read me @ Dock of the Rays

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 31, 2011 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Yep. Even if we don't use those options, someone else could/would and it will cost less than it would via FA.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 31, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Davis could end making the same as Soriano's contract with NYY

I like comparing good & bad contracts lol.

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly it's kind of a hidden benefit, but Wade at $9M or whatever would look a lot better to another team than he would here

Gives us a great chance to turn him into 2-3 legit prospects in 3-4 years

This is my serious username

Follow me: @SandyKazmir, read me @ Dock of the Rays

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 31, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

You all and your salary dumps

IT’S CALLED TRYING TO WIN

PIZZA?!?

by Transplanted on Mar 31, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean to amend that to 4-6 years down the road

This is my serious username

Follow me: @SandyKazmir, read me @ Dock of the Rays

by Sandy Kazmir on Mar 31, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Always a nice move--$12m guaranteed is a no-bainer

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Mar 31, 2011 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

That's really the best part of the deal

The risk is so minimal

by benderbrodriguez on Mar 31, 2011 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

My boy SRQ chimes in at MLB.com

like the signing. He pitched great in the second half of the season last year, and I was very impressed with the game he pitched in a must win situation against Texas, in Texas, last year in the playoffs. If that’s the guy we signed, then we should be alright.

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Mar 31, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions