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Wheeler Gets New Contract

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 2, 2008

BALTIMORE - The Rays agreed to a new 3-year contract with RHP Dan Wheeler on Tuesday that will pay him at least $10.5 million.

Wheeler, expected to be a key member of the team's bullpen this season, will make $2.8 million this year, $3.2 million in 2009 and $3.5 million in 2010.

The Rays hold a club option for 2011 at $4 million, or that can be declined for a $1 million buyout.

Wheeler, 30, is in his second stint with Tampa Bay. Originally a 34{+t}{+h}{+-}round pick by the Rays in their inaugural 1996 draft, he was reacquired last summer from Houston in a trade that sent INF Ty Wigginton to the Astros.

At the time, the year-round Seminole resident and son-in-law of Rays' TV play-by-play announcer Dewayne Staats said he was happy to return to the Tampa Bay area. Entering this season, Wheeler had appeared in 327 games over eight seasons with Tampa Bay, the New York Mets and Astros with a 12-26 record, 4.09 ERA and 25 saves. His 216 appearances over the past three years rank eighth in the majors in that span.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the team discussed a multi-year deal with Wheeler's representatives during the offseason before agreeing to a one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration. The new contract supersedes that deal.

"We've worked hard to try and address our bullpen situation," Friedman said, "and we feel like Dan will be an important part going forward, getting outs late in games."

In two other expected moves Tuesday, the Rays exercised their $8.25 million option for OF Carl Crawford for 2009 and declined OF/DH Rocco Baldelli's $6 million option for next season. The Rays will pay Baldelli $4 million to buy out his 2009 option and a subsequent option for 2010 and 2011.

Friedman did not rule out the possibility of a new long-term contract for Crawford, who said he would like to stick around as well.

"I would like to thank the Rays organization and Stu Sternberg for believing in me," Crawford said. "I'm looking forward to being here for a long time because I think we're at the start of something great going on here. I want to do well for them and represent the team in a classy manner."

29TH IN PAYROLL: According to the Associated Press, the Rays' Opening Day payroll was $43.8 million, placing them 29th among the 30 clubs and ahead of only the Florida Marlins.

The highest paid Ray is 1B Carlos Pena, who's earning $6 million this season. The highest paid pitcher is reliever Troy Percival at $3.897 million. And, the lowest paid player is INF Elliot Johnson at $390,000.

Those figures are obtained from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses.

Marc Lancaster

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