Tampa Bay Rays Extend Yunel Escobar

The Tampa Bay Rays like Yunel Escobar,  Escobar likes being in Tampa Bay, and the two sides agreed to a two-year extension covering 2015 and 2016 worth a guaranteed $13 million. The deal also includes a club option for 2017. The extension replaces a 2015 club option.

“I really do feel happy here,” Escobar said through an interpreter. “I think it’s one of the best things that ever happened in my career. Fortunately we were able to do something and get this contract.”

Escobar arrived in Tampa Bay last season in a trade with the Miami Marlins on Dec. 4, 2012, for infielder Derek Dietrich. Almost immediately Escobar and the Rays became comfortable with one another.

Escobar arrived with a past that did not make the smooth transition a guarantee, but Rays skipper Joe Maddon embraced his personality immediately. He declared Escobar a gold glove caliber shortstop in the spring of 2013, and Escobar went on to play on 153 games for Tampa Bay establishing club records with a .989 fielding percentage and 53 consecutive errorless games at shortstop. Last season Escobar hit. 256 with nine home runs, 56 RBIs and a career-high 27 doubles.

“He likes us and we like him and that’s why it works.” Maddon added.

He along with Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist and James Loney were finalists for the American League Gold Glove Awards.

“He’s a really, really good player at a position that’s extremely scarce around the game.” Tampa Bay executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

With the signing, the Rays have their Gold Glove caliber infield under team control at least through 2015. Zobrist becomes a free agent after the 2015 season. Loney signed a three-year deal earlier this offseason and Longoria has a long term deal through 2022.