ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have exercised contract options on pitcher James Shields, closer Fernando Rodney and catcher Jose Molina.
The team also declined its $6 million option Wednesday on designated hitter Luke Scott, paying him a $1 million buyout instead.
Shields, who was 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA last season, gets a $9.5 million salary next year rather than a $1.5 million buyout.
Rodney, the AL comeback player of the year, set a club record with a career-best 48 saves in his first season with the Rays. He had a 0.60 ERA, a big league record for a reliever with at least 50 innings pitched. Tampa Bay picked up his $2.5 million option rather than pay him a $250,000 buyout.
Molina gets $1.5 million next season instead of a $300,000 buyout.
