Rays Agree to Deals with Arbitration-Eligible Players

Player Agreement Details

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays reached agreement with four of their five remaining arbitration-eligible players and will head to a potentially interesting hearing with infielder Taylor Walls.

Agreeing to one-year deals by Thursday’s 1 p.m. deadline were pitchers Zack Littell ($5.72 million), Shane Baz ($1.45 million) and Garrett Cleavinger ($1.2 million), and catcher Ben Rortvedt ($1.125 million).

Taylor Walls’ Situation

Walls is an elite defensive player but struggles offensively. He hit .183 with a .529 OPS last season after missing the first two-plus months following offseason hip surgery.

Arbitration Process

Walls made $757,300 last season and was projected to get $1.3 million for the coming season. A panel of arbitrators will listen to both sides during a February hearing and then pick one of the numbers.

Player Performance and Pay

Their decision will be interesting, as defensive performance is the part of the game most difficult to quantify. Littell received a raise to $5.72 million, Baz will get $1.45 million, Cleavinger $1.2 million, and Rortvedt $1.125 million.

Baz’s Comeback

Baz, entering what he hopes to be his first full season in the majors at age 25, will get $1.45 million. He went 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 14 starts last season after recovering from elbow surgery.

Cleavinger’s Role

Cleavinger will have a key role in the bullpen with a $1.2 million salary in 2025. He posted a 7-5 record and 3.75 ERA with six saves over a team co-high 68 games last season.

Rortvedt’s Contribution

Rortvedt will make $1.125 million as he shares time behind the plate with Danny Jansen. He ended up as the Rays primary catcher last season, starting 87 games.

Conclusion

The Rays have secured deals with their arbitration-eligible players, setting the stage for the upcoming season with a mix of established talent and rising stars.

FAQs

1. What is arbitration eligibility in baseball?

In baseball, arbitration eligibility is when players with a certain amount of experience can negotiate their salaries for the upcoming season through an arbitration process if they do not reach an agreement with their team.

2. How do arbitrators decide on a player’s salary?

Arbitrators consider various factors such as a player’s performance, comparable salaries of other players, and the team’s financial situation when deciding on a player’s salary.