St. Petersburg, FL – The Tampa Bay Rays signed third baseman Evan Longoria to a six-year extension on Monday which should keep him with the club through at least the 2022 season.
Longoria's new pact will kick in after his current deal expires in 2016 and will pay him $100 million over the additional six years. The deal also includes a club option for 2023.
"We drafted Evan in 2006 with the belief that he and the organization would grow with each other and together accomplish great things," said Rays owner Stuart Sternberg. "That is why the Rays and Evan signed a long-term contract in 2008, and it is why we are extending our commitments today. Evan has clearly become a cornerstone player and a fixture in our organization. We are proud of what we have accomplished these past seven years, and I expect the best is yet to come."
Chosen third overall by Tampa in the 2006 draft, Longoria is a three-time American League All-Star, two-time AL Gold Glove winner and was the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year.
After five major league seasons he already ranks second on the Rays' all-time list with 130 home runs, third with 456 RBI and fourth with 161 doubles. Longoria is one of 11 active players to average at least 25 HR and 90 RBI over his first five seasons.
Longoria only appeared in 74 games this past season due to a partially torn left hamstring. Still, he hit .289 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, a .369 on-base percentage and .527 slugging percentage. The Rays were also 41-44 without him, but went 47-27 with him in the starting lineup.
"Evan has all of the attributes we seek in a player," said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "His determination and work ethic inspire others around him. He is devoted to his craft and strives to improve himself every year, and he defines success in terms of team performance and achievement. It's exciting to know that Evan will be manning third base for the Rays for many years to come."
The Rays were lauded for locking Longoria up long term back in 2008 after he had played just six games in the majors.
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