Posted at 1:47 p.m., Friday, December 14, 2007
Baseball: Floyd, Rays agree to 1-year, $3 million deal
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Cliff Floyd agreed today to a $3 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, who were searching for a left-handed hitter and someone to help replace Delmon Young in right field.The 35-year-old Floyd batted .284 with nine homers and 45 RBIs in 108 games for the Chicago Cubs this season. He's a .279 career hitter with 222 homers and 826 RBIs in 15 major league seasons with the Cubs, Mets, Red Sox, Marlins and Expos.
With the Rays, Floyd likely will be a designated hitter and platoon with Jonny Gomes and Rocco Baldelli in right field. That spot opened last month when Young was traded to Minnesota in a six-player deal that brought starting pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett to Tampa Bay.
Floyd will make $2.75 million in 2008, with an opportunity to earn an additional $2 million in performance bonuses. A club option for 2009 calls for a $3 million salary that could climb as high as $4.75 million, and a $250,000 buyout.
Floyd was an All-Star in 2001 when he hit .317 with 31 homers and 103 RBIs in 103 games. He was part of teams that made the playoffs with the Marlins in 1997, Mets in 2006 and Cubs in 2007.
