Tampa Bay Rays decline to tender a contract to Ben Francisco – MLB News Update
Tampa Bay Rays declined to tender a contract to outfielder Ben Francisco, reports tampabay.com. The source claims that the Rays opted to keep Ryan Roberts as part of their batting line-up. Despite posting decent number in the 2012 regular season, outfielder
Francisco was unable to secure a deal.
Francisco, who was acquired August 31 from the Houston Astros in a trade, hit .228 in 24 games for the Rays last season. He made $1.54 million in salary and was expected to make more than $2 million in the next season. Former Rays’ outfielder B.J. Upton,
who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Rays, also opted to sign a deal with the Atlanta Braves.
Having lost Upton to the Braves, the Rays will definitely be looking to acquire another outfielder before Spring Training. Initially, it seemed the Rays will non-tender Roberts, who hit only .214 in 60 games after he was acquired on July 24
Roberts made $2.01 million last year but he did something to impress Rays’ Manager Joe Maddon, who has apparently played a big part in renewing his contract. There have been rumours the Rays will keep Ben Zobrist at shortstop and play Roberts to solve their
outfield problems.
Relief pitcher Burke Badenhop, who made $1.075 million last season, has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for a Minor Leaguer. The Rays made the official announcement on Saturday but Badenhop said he was surprised at their decision.
"I was definitely surprised, especially right after the tender date," Badenhop said via text message. "I was pleased to wake up this morning as a Ray, but that didn't last long."
"I couldn't have been more appreciative to have spent time with Tampa Bay," Badenhop said. "It's tough to leave but I'm happy to land with a great team like Milwaukee. Spending a year with (manager) Joe Maddon, (pitching coach) Jim Hickey and (executive
vice president) Andrew Friedman was a great experience."
Badenhop was projected to be looking for an increase to around $1.6 million. As expected, the Rays tendered contracts to American League Cy Young winner David Price, outfielders Sam Fuld, Matt Joyce, infielder Sean Rodriguez and right hander Jeff Niemann.
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