Tampa Bay Rays reportedly avoid arbitration with Tyler Glasnow and Hunter Renfroe

The Tampa Bay Rays have reportedly avoided arbitration hearings with two key players for 2020.

With Friday’s arbitration deadline looming, the Tampa Bay Rays were able to come to terms with right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow, and newly acquired outfielder Hunter Renfroe.

Glasnow posted a 1.78 ERA in 2019 through 12 starts. He is currently slotted in as the Rays number three rotation option, although his ceiling appears to be above the roof of Tropicana Field. Last season he earned just over a half a million dollars.

Glasnow and the Rays have agreed on a $2.05 million (MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand) salary for 2020.

This is Glasnow’s first time through arbitration and $2.05 million sets a baseline for future negotiations. He figures to be a vital piece to the Rays’ 2020 success.

Hunter Renfroe was acquired by the Rays in a trade for Tommy Pham earlier this off-season. Renfroe posted 22 defensive runs saved and blasted 33 homers for the Padres in 2019.

Renfroe’s deal is reportedly at $3.3 million for 2020. If these numbers are indeed being reported correctly (not confirmed yet), then it serves as a reminder of how good Erik Neander is at finding values and exercising patience.

The Rays entered the off-season with nine arbitration-eligible players. They traded Pham, DFA’d Matt Duffy, Jesus Aguilar, and Guillermo Heredia, gave Mike Zunino a one-year deal with an option for 2021, and have now come to terms with three players (Renfroe, Glasnow, and Chaz Roe).

Chaz Roe reportedly agreed to a $2,185,200 contract, evidently fighting for every penny.

The Rays are now left with Oliver Drake and Daniel Robertson as the two remaining arbitration-eligible players.

Hopefully, they can get things worked out before the deadline at 1 pm EST. The Tampa Bay Rays only went to arbitration with one player last season, that was Tommy Pham.

Projections have both Daniel Robertson and Oliver Drake earning $1.1 million in arbitration. We should find out soon how much the Rays think those two players are worth.

Stay tuned.