Rays, Glasnow agree to $4M deal (source)

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays agreed to terms on one-year deals with pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Yonny Chirinos, outfielder Manuel Margot and infielder Joey Wendle before Friday’s 1 p.m. deadline to exchange salary arbitration figures, avoiding hearings with those players.

Tampa Bay, however, was unable to agree to deals with left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and first baseman Ji-Man Choi, and the club likely will proceed to an arbitration hearing with both players next month.

According to MLB.com executive reporter Mark Feinsand, Choi filed for $2.45 million while the Rays countered with $1.85 million. The middle point between the two sides would be $2.15 million. Choi struggled at the plate in 2020, hitting just .230 with three home runs.

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Feinsand reported Yarbrough filed for $3.1 million and the Rays came back with $2.3 million. The middle ground would be $2.7 million.

The club has not confirmed financial terms of agreements or figures exchanged with players who did not agree to a deal.

Yarbrough’s case could be interesting to follow. Over the past three seasons, Yarbrough has been one of the most accomplished pitchers on the staff, winning 28 games with a 3.94 ERA. Yarbrough’s role, however, makes the arbitration hearing a tricky one.

The Rays have started Yarbrough 29 times, but he also has served as the primary bulk pitcher behind the opener, which became a common strategy for Tampa Bay during the 2018 season. Both sides likely will look to make an argument on his role and how he should be compensated. It could be an arbitration hearing that sets the precedent on other bulk pitchers around the league.

Of the group that did come to an agreement Friday, Glasnow received the most money. The right-handed starter agreed to a $4 million deal for 2021, a source told Feinsand. Glasnow would have made $2.05 million in ’20 had there been a full season. The increase in pay is a combination of Glasnow’s continued development and his second time going through arbitration.

Glasnow is projected to be Tampa Bay’s ace next season and could very well be the team’s Opening Day starter. Charlie Morton and Blake Snell, the previous two Opening Day starters, no longer are on the roster.

Chirinos and the Rays agreed to $1.175 million. The right-hander was projected to make more money via arbitration this winter, but he will miss the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August.

Margot received $3.4 million. Wendle got the biggest raise -- $2.25 million, compared with $575,600 last season.