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Rays Sign Reliever Shouse, Remove Salas From Roster

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 12, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays finalized their long-anticipated deal with veteran reliever Brian Shouse today, signing the left-hander to a one-year contract with a club option for 2010.

Shouse will make $1.35 million this season, and his option for 2010 is at $1.9 million with a $200,000 buyout.

The Rays designated for assignment reliever Juan Salas to make room on the 40-man roster for Shouse.

Shouse, 40, was one of the most effective lefty specialists in the game last season. He went 5-1 with a 2.81 ERA and two saves in 69 appearances for the Brewers, limiting left-handed hitters to a .180 batting average.

And it wasn't just that he didn't surrender many hits to lefties; he didn't walk them, either. Shouse walked only two left-handed batters last season – the Dodgers' Andre Ethier on Aug. 16 and an intentional pass to Phillies slugger Ryan Howard on Sept. 14.

Salas, 30, made five appearances with the Rays last season while spending the bulk of the year in Durham. Originally signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1998, he has never played in another organization.

If Salas clears waivers, the Rays likely would be interested in bringing him back on a minor-league contract.

Officially signing Shouse would seem to bring the Rays' offseason to-do list nearly to a close. About the only item left on the agenda is completing a multiyear contract with infielder Willy Aybar that will allow the parties to avoid an arbitration hearing, and that is expected to happen any day now.

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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