Evan Longoria wants to be with Tampa Bay for his entire big league career.
The slugging third baseman’s wish may have come true Monday when Longoria and the Rays agreed on a $136.6 million, 10-year contract that adds six guaranteed seasons and $100 million.
“I always wanted to be kind of a benchmark player … the guy that you could think about or associate with the organization,” Longoria said. “My goal from Day One was to be the first player that played their whole career here, to be the first guy that came into the organization and went out in the organization, and played all the years in between. There’s no better place for me.”
The agreement with the three-time All-Star incorporates the remainder of the 27-year-old’s existing contract, which called for him to earn $36.6 million over the next four seasons. The new deal includes a team option for 2023 that could make the deal worth $144.6 million over 11 years.
“It’s a very exciting day for us,” Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said. “For Evan to have the confidence in us, and I know the confidence that we have in him, to re-up so to speak for the long haul.”
GIANTS HIT RECORD SHARE
A full postseason share for the World Series champion San Francisco Giants was worth a record $377,003, breaking the mark that had stood since the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals.
In the first year of playoff expansion from eight teams to 10, the players’ pool was a record $65.36 million, Major League Baseball said. The previous mark of $59.1 million came in 2009.
The Giants split $23.5 million, voting 50 full shares, partial shares equivalent to another 11.1, and 12 cash awards. All-Star outfielder Melky Cabrera, suspended for the final 45 games of the regular season and the division series, automatically received a full share.
The American League champion Detroit Tigers got a full share worth $284,275.
SHORT HOPS
Former Seattle Mariners infielder/outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo signed a minor league contract with the Tigers. The Woodinville High grad was with the Mariners from 2004-2010. … The Red Sox agreed with outfielder Jonny Gomes on a two-year contract that would reportedly pay him $10 million. … Catcher Eli Whiteside and the Yankees agreed to a one-year contract worth $625,000 in the major leagues and $200,000 in the minors. … Left-hander Tim Byrdak is staying with the Mets, agreeing to a minor league contract. … The Athletics sold infielder Brandon Hicks to the Mets. … The Cubs hired Rob Deer as an assistant hitting coach. … Orioles assistant coach DeMarlo Hale joined the Blue Jays as bench coach.
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