Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour, "Officially" Sign Floyd

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Dec 13, 2007 3:49 PM EST Comment 13 comments

The Rays can cross their first two names off of the arbitration "to-do" list, as they agreed to contracts today with RHPs Grant Balfour and Gary Glover. Both figure to be among the few holdover elements from last year's league-worst bullpen.

R.J., this from Jayson Stark:

The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent outfielder Cliff Floyd, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. The deal is for $3 million, plus $2 million in performance incentives and includes an option for 2008 earnings.

Per my count we're around 28 million with the Kazmir / Pena arbitration situations to go and at least one more roster addition remaining. It's not going to be the highest payroll outside of this state, but I'm quite encouraged, the organization has truly impressed me this off-season, and in the end it wasn't about money, like I had said before the off-season began it was about the quality of player added rather than the quality of paycheck that player received.

Apparently the deal isn't done:

The Rays moved closer to signing free-agent outfielder Cliff Floyd to a one-year contract with a club option for 2009. Internet reports emerged Thursday that a deal had been completed, but the Rays said some details still have to be worked out.

"We are still working through some of the finer points but we are optimistic we will have a positive announcement early next week," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said Thursday evening.

Per Encina, shame on Jayson Stark for starting more internet rumors. Second straight day the ESPN crew is the first to report this information, whomever their source is - either the Rays, Floyd, or his agent - has to be pretty reliable I'd imagine, particularly to out scoop the locals two straight days on essentially the same specifics.

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Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour

Good to sign these guys but we seem to have lost out on Rob Mackowiak to the Nationals.

SC raysfan

by SC raysfan on Dec 13, 2007 3:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour

its not the worst thing in the world. Everyone is completely down on Zobrist as a utility man, and while he has yet to perform at the mlb level, he did go back down to AAA last year and post good numebers

General Manager Manifesto Matt Bishoff

by Matt Bishoff on Dec 13, 2007 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour

No offense, but you are upset that we didn't sign a guy that has rarely had his name mentioned before this off season. Here is Mackowiak's stats from last year as well as his career stats:

2007 Season Stats
SPLIT G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA OBP SLG
Season 113 293 40 77 14 2 6 38 4 .263 .337 .386
Career 818 2275 300 596 110 18 63 282 49 .262 .334 .409

Super utility?!? How about super piece of crap!

by iamthebiggesttloser on Dec 13, 2007 8:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI/BB/SO/SB/AVG
2007 CWS 85 237 34 66 11 2 6 36 23 53 3 .278
2007 SD 28 56 6 11 3 0 0 2 3 18 1 .196

Sorry about that earlier post. Here is a more clear picture of Mackowiak's track record from last year. I didn't bother to redo his career stats cause they aren't any better.

by iamthebiggesttloser on Dec 13, 2007 8:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour

Zobrist is fine as a utility player

by ttnorm on Dec 13, 2007 4:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour, O

This Utility role we are talking about does not involve Zobrist at all. Zobrist is the middle infield backup for SS + 2B. Mackowiak is the guy to take Joel Guzman's corner infield utility role as well as the corner outfield positions or as it is referred to as the Super Utility role. We still need to upgrade if we can for this role because even though I like Joel he is very inconsistent on Offense and isn't the best in the outfield. Mackowiak would have been really goood at 1B, 3B, DH, and insurance especially at RF. This role also is best suited for a player that can hit with some pop as well. Let's hope we can still get someone to fit this role for 08.

SC raysfan

by SC raysfan on Dec 13, 2007 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Rays Avoid Arbitration with Glover, Balfour, O

I wonder what the performance objectives are and whose option is it for 2008.

Whatever, it is a very favorable deal for the Rays. I think Floyd's 2007 salary was $3 million and he was due to get $5 million in 2008 had the Cubs picked up his option.

More important is the point you make Patrick.

"...it was about the quality of player added rather than the quality of paycheck that player received." Absolutely true.

by bobr on Dec 13, 2007 5:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actually Bob that was my statement

Every prior to the bold "R.J." part in the post is Patrick's however.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 13, 2007 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Actually Bob that was my statement

Oops. Sorry for the wrong attribution. Kudos to you for a clear, clean statement of an important point.

by bobr on Dec 13, 2007 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Carroll's take on Floyd

buddaley (clearwater): Hi Will, There is a story out that the Rays are about to sign Cliff Floyd. Do you think he can play a full year as a platoon DH and occasional right fielder or do his age and injury history make him too fragile for the Rays to expect much from him?

Will Carroll: You take a useful player, put him in a specific role, and pair him with one of the best medical staffs in baseball. How is that not a good recipe for success? It may not work out, but it at least had a good plan.

Here

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 13, 2007 7:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs