James Shields just got a nice pay raise from the Tampa Bay Rays as they agreed on a four year contract that will pay Shields atleast $12 million guranteed money, but could be upwards of $40 million along with three option years.

If Shields comes back and has a good season like he did last year, I think it will be a good signing.  But you are still talking about the Rays here, who need a lot more help then just Shields.

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The Tampa Bay Rays did not want to goto a salary arbitration hearing with Scott Kazmir so they signed him to a one year contract that will be worth $3.7 million dollars.  Kazmir will command a much higher salary in 2009 if he has a good 08 season.

How much longer will the Rays be able to afford him is the question?

Carlos Pena just got a nice pay raise from the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rays signed Pena to a three year contract worth $24 million dollars.  That is sure a big salary for a player that just started to come on in the past year or so.

I don’t think Pena will have another monster year like he did last year where he hit 46 home runs and 121 RBI, but I do think he will have a decent year around 25-30 homes and 90-100 RBI.  Hopefully he does for the Rays sake.

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The Tampa Bay Rays completed a trade with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday evening when they sent relief pitcher Jeff Ridgway to the Braves for Willy Aybar and Chase Fontaine.

The Rays traded Ridgway who was pretty good last year at Triple A for a utility infielder in Aybar, and Fontaine who was the Braves 2nd round draft pick in the 2006 draft.  Aybar will be able to help out the Rays once he recovers from a hand / wrist injury that will keep him out most of Spring Training.  Fontaine I would expect to start at High A ball, or even Double A.

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Outfielder Jonny Gomes and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed on a new one year contract that will pay Gomez $1.28 million dollars in 2008.  Expect Gomes to get pleny of at bats even though he might not start everyday.

I like the fact the Rays resigned Gomes and it only cost them a little over a million dollars.  He is a pretty good backup outfielder, and with the outfielders that the Rays have on the roster right now they needed some depth out there.  Good pickup!

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