Tampa Bay Rays bring on board Free Agent Catcher Jose Molina with one-year, $1.8 million deal -MLB
The Tampa Bay Ray of Major League Baseball (MLB) added offensive depth to their club by signing on board free agent catcher, Jose Molina, to a one-year deal worth an estimated $1.8 million on late Monday night, November 28, 2011.
Benefitting the Tampa Bay Rays is the inclusion of an option in the contract which is that they can have the player on the team for the same amount of money for the 2013 season following the 2012 one without having to negotiate in any way, unless they want
to that is.
Rays general manager, Andrew Friedman, made the announcement Monday.
“Jose has been one of the best defensive catchers in baseball over the past decade, and his presence will bring even more stability to our defense, and he will be a great asset to our young pitchers,” said Rays General Manager, Andrew Friedman.
The inclusion certainly did not come without making space on the roster first. The Rays had traded now former catcher, John Jaso, to the Seattle Mariners earlier on Sunday in exchange for relief pitcher, Josh Lueke, along with not picking up a $3.2 million
option in order to keep Kelly Shoppach on the team.
Knowing that the Rays are an upcoming team that just need some experienced leadership, Molina has high hopes on riding with the team throughout next season.
"I know [the Rays] have a great group of young guys there that can do the job, that can make the playoffs and we saw that last year," said Molina on being asked what was the reason behind him signing on with Tampa Bay. "I'm just happy to join a team that
can do that."
Certainly Molina is one of the bigger names in the MLB and can provide enormous experience to the younger players on the Tampa Bay Rays, but still the question remains.
Will Jose Molina be able to change around the Tampa Bay team next season or will they finish it off the same way they have been doing in the past.
It will truly be thrilling to see how Molina will affect and change their game once the season kicks off in April of 2012.
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