The Tampa Rays locked up their ace until 2011 (and with a club option for 2012) today, in a move which shows that the Rays are finally committed to winning.
The Rays, once the joke of baseball are now stocked with talent in the bigs, and still have plenty more down on the farm. Locking up Kazmir may force the Rays to pay more over his arbitration years, but now the threat of Kazmir leaving via free agency after the 2010 season is gone. Even if the Rays signed him after the 2010 season, the Rays would have to pay much more for Kazmir’s services (assuming Kazmir is still putting up great numbers).
Kazmir is still only 24 years old, and while he has had some control issues (he was third in walks allowed in the AL and fifth in wild pitches) he should be an ace for the duration of this contract.
Agreed.
Locking up a young Ace, like Kazmir, is a step in the right direction for the Rays, and sends a positive sign to their fans that this is now the dawning of a new era in Tampa Bay.