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Rays Sign Gomes For One More Year

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays have finalized a one-year contract with Jonny Gomes. The outfielder, who figures to play a bigger role this season than last thanks to the departure of Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, will make $1.275 million in 2008. He can earn an additional $25,000 if he reaches 500 plate appearances.

Signing Gomes leaves only two arbitration-eligible players without a deal - albeit the two biggest names on the list, Scott Kazmir and Carlos Pena.

The Rays will continue to negotiate with their representatives up to a team-imposed Friday deadline, hoping to avoid an arbitration hearing. If no deal is reached by Friday, the Rays will halt contract talks and prepare for a hearing.

In the meantime, the Rays are feeling out potential trade partners to help shore up their depth at third base and beyond.

Tampa Bay has had talks with the Atlanta Braves about a trade involving 24-year-old infielder Willy Aybar, a switch-hitter with a checkered past. Aybar's off-the-field issues, most notably a stint in a substance-abuse rehabilitation program that wiped out most of his 2007 season, could be an impediment.

The Braves suspended Aybar indefinitely in April after he left the team without permission. He was supposed to report for treatment on a sore wrist that had him on the disabled list to open the season but instead drove from Atlanta to Boston to see his older brother for help dealing with drinking and drug issues, his agent told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time.

Aybar completed his rehab program in August, but a broken hamate bone in his right hand kept him from making it back to the majors. He underwent season-ending surgery and didn't take the field again until October, when he began the winter-ball season playing for Licey in the Dominican Republic. He has had a strong season in his home country, hitting .339 and posting a .415 on-base percentage in 15 games during Licey's run to first place in the league's January semifinal series.

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