Evan Longoria Extension: $100 Million Deal to Keep Player With Tampa Bay Rays Until 2022
Evan Longoria has signed a $100 million six year extension to his deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, contracting him to the team until 2022.
Longoria was already signed up to a contract through 2016, which he agreed just a week after his big-league debut in 2008.
The combination of the two contracts means that Longoria will be paid a massive $136 million over the next 10 seasons.
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It has also been reported that his new contract holds a clause entitling the Rays to extend it further. The 2023 option basically means the Rays could keep Longoria at the team until he turns 37.
Various analysts have found the decision by the Rays interesting, but have explained it saying that a team like the Rays are unable to compete for a player of Longoria's stature in the open market. That means they'd prefer to take a risk on contracting with a decade long commitment, which would oay off if he stays healthy and playing well into his thirties.
Injuries have been a concern for the Rays and Longoria, however, and last season he in fact missed 88 games after a hamstring injury. He also missed 28 games in 2011.
However, his supporters will highlight that when he has played his contributions have been invaluable to the Rays. He hit .289 with 17 home runs and an .896 OPS last season. His career OPS is an impressive .877, which ranks him third in the MLB for an active third basement – with only Alex Rodriguez and David Wright ahead of him.
Whether this deal turns out to be a shrewd move by the Rays remains to be seen, and it will be years before Tampa Bay will be able to assess whether the deal was a good one for the team.
