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Rays Add Cormier To Bullpen; Re-Sign Balfour

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - The Tampa Bay Rays added to their bullpen options today by signing former Baltimore Orioles reliever Lance Cormier to a one-year major-league deal. He'll make $675,000 with a chance to earn an additional $175,000 in incentives.

In addition, the Rays officially announced they have avoided arbitration with reliever Grant Balfour by signing him to a one-year, $1.4 million contract and confirmed pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. The Rays had designated Ryu for assignment this week.

Cormier, 28, went 3-3 with a 4.02 ERA in 45 appearances for Baltimore last season, all but one of them in relief. He spent the previous four seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, working mostly out of the bullpen, and carries a 5.53 career ERA in the majors.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated for assignment reliever Dewon Day, who was claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox a week ago. They hope to bring Day back into the organization if he clears waivers.

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