Tampa Bay Rays reportedly sign Brandon Lowe to extension

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported late Tuesday night that the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a 6 year deal with Brandon Lowe worth 24 million dollars.

Per Ken Rosenthal, the Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly agreed to terms with second baseman Brandon Lowe on a 6 year deal.

After appearing in only 43 games last season, Brandon Lowe is still considered a rookie and wouldn’t have been eligible for arbitration until the 2022 season. Instead, the Tampa Bay Rays have opted to buy-out all three years of his arbitration. Per Rosenthal’s sources, the deal also includes two club options, but as of now the amounts for both of those years are unknown.

Brandon Lowe got off to 0-19 start but rebounded, finishing the year with a .233 batting average and 6 bombs. This spring, the 24-year-old second baseman has been on a tear hitting .359 over 42 plate appearances with a pair of bombs and seven doubles. Across three levels (AA-MLB) last season, Lowe totaled 28 bombs and 101 runs batted in.

Commitments similar to the one made to Brandon Lowe by the Rays may become commonplace in Tampa Bay as it would behoove the front office to begin locking up its talented young core that has Rays fans eyeing October baseball for the first time in 5 years. Contracts like these can work out well for both the teams and players involves and while the specifics are unknown to this point, it seems to be a win-win situation.

Brandon Lowe receives stability and the Rays lock up on of their young players while buying out his arbitration years and gaining control of his first two years of free agency. If both club options are exercised, this contract could keep Brandon Lowe in Tampa Bay through his age 32 season.

While it is still unknown exactly where Lowe will play in 2019 with Joey Wendle at second, the expectation is that he will still contribute at a number of positions ranging from left field to first base and even as a designated hitter.

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Lowe’s extension comes on a day where baseball’s biggest star (Mike Trout) received a record-breaking extension north of 400M and Alex Bregman reaped the benefits of his play, cashing in on a 6 year extension worth 100M.

Stay tuned to Rays Colored Glasses for reactions and analysis as more details emerge on their most recent deal.