ST. PETERSBURG — Facing another large group of potential cases, the Rays are set for two hearings after agreeing to terms on Thursday with eight of their 10 remaining arbitration-eligible players.
Tampa Bay did not reach agreements with reliever Jason Adam or designated hitter/outfielder Harold Ramírez, putting them in line for arbitration hearings. The two sides had to exchange salary figures for the coming season before 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, but they can continue to negotiate until those scheduled hearings.
Adam, one of the club’s top high-leverage relievers, earned $1.775 million last year as he recorded a 2.98 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP with 12 saves and 69 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings over 56 appearances. Ramírez, a potential trade candidate despite his success with the Rays, earned $2.2 million last season while batting .313/.353/.460 with 12 homers and 68 RBIs in 122 games.
“Very much believe that good-faith efforts were made by all parties to find common ground. Sometimes it just doesn’t happen. Ideally, we get them all done today, they’re all agreed, and off we go. That wasn’t the case, and there’s some work ahead,” Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. “Talked to both players. They understand. It’s an honest difference in interpretation within the criteria and what’s most influential. As long as you keep it there, you avoid it getting personal and sideways the way it can get.
“I think we’re in a good place with our players. We care about them. Nice to get those that we got done, but certainly would have loved to have gotten them all done.”
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