View single post by lobo316
 Posted: Fri Jan 24th, 2014 02:16 am
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lobo316



Joined: Sun Oct 14th, 2007
Location: Raptorville
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Mana: 
 Free-agent closer Grant Balfour has reached agreement on a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays that will be announced later Thursday afternoon, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com.

The contract will pay Balfour $12 million over the next two seasons, a baseball source confirmed to ESPN.com.

The deal comes a month after a proposed two-year, $15 million agreement between Balfour and the Baltimore Orioles fell through after the O's objected to the results of Balfour's physical exam.

Balfour, a 36-year-old Australia native, went 1-3 with a 2.59 ERA and 38 saves last season in Oakland and made the American League All-Star team. Balfour pitched previously in Tampa Bay from 2007-10.

He's a career 28-17 with 72 saves over 10 seasons with Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee and Oakland.

Barring a spring training surprise, Balfour will succeed Fernando Rodney as Tampa Bay's closer this season. He joins a strong Rays bullpen contingent that also includes Joel Peralta, Jake McGee, Heath Bell and Juan Carlos Oviedo.