It looks as though Andrew Friedman and the Tampa Bay Rays did some Black Friday shopping of their own over the holiday weekend. The Rays have extended the contract of All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria an extra six years for $100 million, retaining him through the 2022 season with a club option for 2023.
Rays, Evan Longoria agree on 6 year, $100 million contract extension
The new agreement will keep Longoria in St. Pete through at least 2022, with an option for 2023.
J. Meric
Longoria was already regarded as having the most team-friendly deal in baseball, his initial contract -- signed in 2008 -- keeping him in a Rays uniform through the 2016 season at just $47.5 million. His new extension will bring his contract to a grand total of $136 million over the next 10 years, with the new $100 million spread across the final six years of the deal.
Though the 27-year-old Longoria missed much of the 2012 season with a hamstring injury, he is still considered one of the best -- if not the best -- third basemen in the game. The 2008 AL Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Star is a career .271/.361/.516 hitter and has averaged 26 home runs and 91 RBI in his five big-league seasons.
A press conference officially announcing the deal is expected sometime Monday afternoon.
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