There was some huge new for the Tampa Bay Rays reported late last night as Ken Rosenthal tweeted that the Rays and Brandon Lowe had come to terms on a six year deal.
#Rays in agreement with IF/OF Brandon Lowe on six-year, $24M contract with two club options, sources tell The Athletic. Lowe, 24, has only 148 plate appearances in majors. Started 0-for-19 last Aug., but rallied for .847 OPS in Sept. No. 93 on BA’s list of top 100 prospects.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 20, 2019
Marc Topkin later reported that the contract extension also included two option year, making it a possible eight year contract extension for Brandon Lowe, who only has 148 big league plate appearances under his belt.
It's a good off-day for Brandon Lowe. Agrees to 6 year deal with 2 team options with #Rays, $24M guaranteed, can max out at $49M w/ options and incentives. Nothing from team yet. @Ken_Rosenthal had agreement 1st
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 20, 2019
Game Notes
The Rays lost yesterday, 6-2, against the New York Yankees. Tyler Glasnow was great, until he wasn’t, as he lost command during a disastrous 3rd inning. Overall, Glasnow recorded 3 1⁄3 innings pitched, allowing five runs on four hits, while he walked four and struck out four.
Curvy. #SpringRays pic.twitter.com/01mLUgPxO5
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 19, 2019
Jalen Beeks surrendered a home run during his 1 1⁄3 innings pitched. Ryne Stanek collected two strikeouts. Andrew Kittredge had a scoreless outing. Cole Sulser continued his impressive, and thus far, scoreless spring with a perfect frame in the 8th, collecting a strikeout as well.
Offensively, Joey Wendle had a single and also played shortstop for the Rays. Daniel Robertson doubled, Michael Perez and Kevin Kiermaier were the only other Rays regulars with hits.
News and Links
- Battle for Rays’ last ‘pen spot a 4-man race - Juan Toribio, Rays Baseball
It seems the race is down to Hoby Milner, Hunter Wood, Adam Kolarek, and Emilio Pagan
- Glasnow on facing Yanks: ‘I kinda beat myself’ - Juan Toribio, Rays Baseball
In this article, Toribio notes that Kevin Cash says they’d like to have all the roster decisions made by Friday (their last game in Port Charlotte).
“I think in fairness to the guys, we have to have a strong sense of where we’re at,” Cash said. “The 22nd is when we play our last game in Port Charlotte, and then we go to Lakeland, so we would like to tell a lot of the guys that day.”
- Rays Wednesday: Off, but prospects are playing in St. Pete - Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times ($)
Wander Franco, Matthew Liberatore, Shane Baz among those facing Canadian team.
- Rays’ Tyler Glasnow is working to fill tall order - Martin Fennelly, Tampa Bay Times ($)
WAR Update: Catcher Framing! - David Appelman, FanGraphs
Lookout for Mike Zunino
- Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day Countdown: 9 must-watch series - Austin Reimann, Rays Colored Glasses
- The opener: The t-shirt - The Ray Tank
- A day with Tommy Pham - Will Vragovic, The Rays Tank
- An update on the Craig Kimbrel situation
#Rays have been keeping in contact, but deal always seemed unlikely https://t.co/syJ8jkQEAh
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 20, 2019
- We could always use more Wander Franco
I think you all will enjoy this. A couple of at-bats by Rays SS prospect Wander Franco. pic.twitter.com/xgBSCD2Sjx
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) March 20, 2019
MIKE TROUT SIGNS HUGE CONTRACT
STILL MASSIVELY UNDERPAID
BREAKING: Star center fielder Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing a record-breaking 12-year contract worth more than $430 million, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Details: https://t.co/bROnnC11Uh
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 19, 2019