Niemann loses arbitration case, will receive $2.75 million
--RHP Jeff Niemann ended up on the wrong side of the arbitrators' ruling and will get a salary of $2.75 million this season rather than the $3,200,000 he sought. Niemann's was the last of the Rays' six arbitration eligible players to have his salary determined. They settled ahead of time with RHPs Burke Badenhop and Joel Peralta, LHPs J.P. Howell and David Price, and OF B.J. Upton.
--1B Casey Kotchman officially lost his job when the Rays opted for more power and paid $7.25-million to bring back Carlos Pena. Kotchman, a St. Petersburg native who resurrected his career with his hometown team in 2011, agreed to a one-year deal with the Indians for $3-million, with another $1.75-million available in incentives. He signed a minor league deal with the Rays that paid him $750,000 last season, and earned another $400,000 in incentives.
--INF Russ Canzler was the International League MVP last season based on his offense, but the Rays didn't have a place for him defensively. So after taking him off the 40-man roster by designating him for assignment, the Rays sent him to Cleveland for cash considerations. The Rays didn't have room for Canzler on their big-league roster, so he appeared headed back to Triple-A had he stayed.
--LHP David Price and his Project 14 Foundation teamed with the Ted Williams Museum to co-host a charity dinner that featured the Hitters Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Former Ray Tino Martinez and Cecil Fielder were the inductees.
--1B Dan Johnson, who hit several of the most dramatic homers in Rays history, said he has no bitterness about not being retained as he signed a minor league deal with the White Sox. Though Johnson seems unlikely to get much opportunity with Paul Konerko at first base and Adam Dunn at DH, he said being healthy and having a chance are enough. "My hope is just to be able to stay healthy and go out and prove myself again and work my way back into a relevant role," Johnson said.
--Manager Joe Maddon is close to finalizing a three-year contract extension which, barring an unexpected turn, will be completed and announced before the Feb. 20 opening of spring training.
BY THE NUMBERS
6-0 -- The Rays record in arbitration, the only undefeated team in the majors.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"The memories are irreplaceable." -- 1B Dan Johnson, looking back at his dramatic highlights with the Rays.
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