ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays completed a
trade with the Atlanta Braves on Friday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Rafael
Soriano and agreeing to a $7.25 million, one-year contract with the reliever.
The deal sent right-hander Jesse Chavez to the Braves,
who weren't willing to give Soriano a long-term contract and recently signed
free agent relievers Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito.
The Rays were searching for bullpen help after the lack
of a proven closer contributed to the 2008 AL champions not failing to reach the
playoffs. With several pitchers sharing the role, Tampa Bay wound up with 22
blown saves — eighth most in the major leagues.
Soriano had a career-best 27 saves in 31 opportunities
for the Braves. In 75 2-3 innings, he struck out 102 while walking 27.
"We had our eyes on different guys, but I don't think any
that make us feel as confident about our bullpen heading into the season as we
do now," said Andrew Friedman, the Rays' executive vice president of baseball
operations.
The last thing Friedman expected when he headed to this
week's winter meetings was to get a reliever who'll cost the budget-conscious
Rays so much money. But when he learned Soriano had accepted an offer of
arbitration from the Braves, Friedman huddled with team officials and received
permission from principal owner Stuart Sternberg to pursue a deal.
"I chose salary arbitration because they had showed
interest in keeping me. Then they said I was too expensive and that I wasn't
going to be their closer," Soriano said from the Dominican Republic.
"Either way I think everything turned out the way it was
supposed to and I'm happy to be part of Tampa Bay's team now. … I had been
speaking to my agent and preparing mentally for whatever may happen and wherever
I may end up."
Soriano, who turns 30 on Dec. 19, ranked second among
major league relievers in strikeouts and held opponents to a .194 batting
average last season – 12th lowest in the National League. In eight seasons with
the Braves and Seattle Mariners, he's 8-18 with a 2.92 ERA and 43 saves.
"Last week, at this time, Stu said there wouldn't be a
$7 million closer. Today, there's a $7 million closer. Markets change," Rays
president Matt Silverman said.
"This isn't about a modest improvement in a place where
we had depth. It's a real need. It's a luxury that other teams can afford. It's
something, while we can't necessarily afford it all the time, we're going to
enjoy having someone like him."
Barring any moves that trim salary, the Rays could go to
spring training with a payroll approaching $70 million. Less than two weeks ago,
Friedman said he wanted to shore up the bullpen but doubted the club would enter
next season with an established closer.
The Rays felt Soriano was their shot to bolster their
chances of narrowing the gap between themselves and the big-spending New York
Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Even if it means possible payroll reductions down the
road.
"We made this move with the mind that if the season
started tomorrow that we feel really good about this team and feel like — at
least on paper, in the middle of December — it's the best team we've had,"
Friedman said.
"Obviously it doesn't guarantee anything, especially in
this division, but we feel really good about our bullpen in terms of it being a
strength."
The Braves receive Chavez, who came to the Rays last
month in a deal involving second baseman Akinori Iwamura. The 26-year-old
reliever was 1-4 with a 4.01 ERA in a major league rookie-high 73 appearances
for the Pirates last season.