Tampa Bay Rays settle with all arbitration eligible players

The Tampa Bay Rays have avoided arbitration with all of five of their remaining players that were eligible: right-handed pitcher Oliver Drake, right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow, right-handed pitcher Chaz Roe, outfielder Hunter Renfroe and infielder Daniel Robertson.

Drake flourished with the Rays this past season as he struck out 32% of opposing hitters and finished the season with a 3.21 ERA / 3.87 FIP. He was projected to make $1.1M during his first foray into arbitration. The Rays and Drake agreed to a one year, $1.025M deal.

Glasnow was incredible — when healthy — for the Rays in 2019 and looked well on his way to a Cy Young season until going down with an injury just a month into the season. Glasnow was able to return in September. Overall, Glasnow recorded just 60 ²⁄₃ innings pitched and finished the year with a 1.78 ERA / 2.26 FIP. He was projected to make $1.9M but signed for over that amount, agreeing to a one year, $2.050M deal.

Roe’s 2019 season was a story of two halves as he struggled significantly during the first part of the season but was able to regain control of his devastating slider and performed very well down the stretch for Tampa Bay. He was projected to make $2.2M during his 2nd round of arbitration, but ultimately agreed to a one year, $2,185,200 deal.

Renfroe was acquired just over a month ago by the Tampa Bay Rays in the deal that sent Tommy Pham to San Diego. Renfroe was off to a blistering start in 2019 until an injury significantly derailed his progress and caused his offensive numbers to plummet. He was projected to make $3.4M by MLB Trade Rumors, but would sign just below that at $3.3M.

Robertson broke in 2018 but would suffer a season ending injury late in the summer. He would not bounceback and struggled through most of the 2019 season and was left off of the Rays postseason roster. He was projected to make $1.1M in arbitration and came away with a $1.025M deal.