Off the wire

Third baseman Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed Monday to a $136.6 million, 10-year contract that adds six guaranteed seasons and $100 million to his previous deal.
Third baseman Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed Monday to a $136.6 million, 10-year contract that adds six guaranteed seasons and $100 million to his previous deal.

— BASEBALL Longoria extends deal

Evan Longoria wants to be with the Tampa Bay Rays for his entire big league career. The slugging third baseman got his wish Monday when the Rays agreed to a $136.6 million, 10-year contract that adds six guaranteed seasons and $100 million to his previous deal. “I always wanted to be kind of a benchmark player ... the guy that you could think about or associate with the organization,” Longoria said. “My goal from Day One was to be the first player that played their whole career here, to be the first guy that came into the organization and went out in the organization, and played all the years in between. There’s no better place for me.” The agreement with the three-time All-Star incorporates the remainder of the 27-year-old’s existing contract, which called for him to earn $36.6 million over the next four seasons. The new deal includes a team option for 2023 that could make the deal worth $144.6 million over 11 years. Longoria said a no-trade provision is not included in the deal, although after 2017 he would have a right to block trades as a 10-year veteran who spent his last five years with the same team. Just six games into his major league career, Longoria agreed in April 2008 to a $17.5 million, six-year contract that included club options potentially making the deal worth $44 million over nine seasons.

His new deal calls for a $5,000,180 signing bonus - the $180 is for good luck. Of the signing bonus, $1,000,180 is new money payable Dec. 15 and the rest is a pair of $2 million payments Feb. 15 and June 14. His 2013 salary is reduced from $6 million to $2 million. Longoria’s salaries remain $7.5 million for 2014, $11 million for 2015 and $12.1 million for 2016. The new deal adds salaries of $13 million for 2017, $13.5 million for 2018, $14.5 million for 2019, $15 million for 2020, $18.5 million for 2021 and $19.5 million for 2022. Tampa Bay holds a $13 million option for 2023 with a $5 million buyout, and escalators could raise the option price to $18 million. Longoria became just the seventh player with a contract guaranteed through 2020. Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun, Detroit first baseman Prince Fielder, Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler and Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki have deals covering the next eight years, with Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols’ contract running through 2021 and Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto’s through 2023. Tampa Bay selected Longoria as the third overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft, making him the first player drafted under principal owner Stuart Sternberg and executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. Longoria played in just 74 games in 2012 because of a partially torn left hamstring. He underwent a minor surgical cleanup procedure on the hamstring Nov. 20 and is expected to be ready for spring training. Longoria will rehab the leg during the winter and will not participate in next year’s World Baseball Classic. Tampa Bay was 41-44 during Longoria’s absence, and 47-27 with him in the starting lineup. The two time AL Gold Glove winner and 2008 AL Rookie of the Year ranks second on the Rays career list with 130 home runs, third with 456 RBI and fourth with 161 doubles. Longoria is one of 11 active players to average at least 25 home runs and 90 RBI during his first five seasons.

Catcher Eli Whiteside and the New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year contract worth $625,000 in the major leagues and $200,000 in the minors. The 33-year-old, claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Nov. 5, was 1 for 11 in 12 games for the Giants this year. He hit .224 with 1 home run and 20 RBI in 60 games at Class AAA Fresno. Whiteside appeared in 56 games for San Francisco’s World Series champions in 2010 and 82 last year. He was not on this past season’s World Series roster as the Giants won their second title in three years. As part of Monday’s deal, which avoided salary arbitration, the Yankees guaranteed $200,000. New York starter Russell Martin became a free agent and Chris Stewart was his backup this year, with Francisco Cervelli at Class AAA. Austin Romine was limited to 31 games in the minor leagues because of a back injury.

DeMarlo Hale is leaving the Baltimore Orioles to become bench coach for new Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons. Hale spent one year with Baltimore after six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, where he served as third base coach in 2006-2009 followed by two years as bench coach. He was Texas’ first base and outfielder coach in 2002-2005. Toronto also said Monday that Pete Walker will move from bullpen coach to pitching coach,Chad Mottola will shift from Class AAA hitting coach to the big league hitting coach, Dwayne Murphy will move from hitting coach to first base and outfielder coach and Luis Rivera will move from coaching assistant to third base coach. The Blue Jays’ bullpen coaching position remains open. Gibbons, Toronto’s manager in 2004-2008, was rehired last week. Gibbons managed the San Diego Padres’ Class AA affiliate in San Antonio last season.

The Chicago Cubs have hired former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Rob Deer as an assistant hitting coach. Deer, who has spent time as a roving hitting instructor for San Diego, hit 230 home runs in 11 major league seasons. He played with Cubs Manager Dale Sveum in Milwaukee and will work under hitting coach James Rowson.

HOCKEY Mediators join talks

Federal mediators are entering the stalled NHL labor talks, with the 1 season’s first 2/2 months already lost because of the lockout. George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said Monday the parties had agreed to use the agency. He assigned three mediators to assist negotiations - deputy director Scot Beckenbaugh, director of mediation services John Sweeney and Commissioner Guy Serota. “While we have no particular level of expectation going into this process, we welcome a new approach in trying to reach a resolution of the ongoing labor dispute at the earliest possible date,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. Cohen has worked with the players’ associations for Major League Baseball, helping end the 1994-1995 strike as an outside counsel, and the NBA. He was an adviser to the NHL players’ union before joining FMCS three years ago. “We look forward to their involvement as we continue working to reach an equitable agreement for both the players and the owners,” said Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players’ Association. Cohen mediated during the 2010 negotiations in Major League Soccer and 2011 talks in the NFL and NBA, along with this year’s dispute between the NFL and its on-field officials. Hockey players and management have not negotiated since last Wednesday. The NHL has canceled more than one-third of its regular season, including all games through Dec. 14, the New Year’s Day outdoor Winter Classic and the All-Star weekend scheduled for Jan. 26-27 at Columbus, Ohio.

BASKETBALL Conley sits out

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley sat out Monday night’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of flulike symptoms. Conley, who came in averaging 14.8 points and 6.5 assists, did not practice Monday afternoon and appeared at the FedEx Forum only shortly before the start of the game to be examined by doctors. Jerryd Bayless, signed as a free agent by Memphis in the off season, started in Conley’s spot and was expected to get most of the minutes against Cleveland. Josh Selby backed up Bayless. Conley’s illness marked the first time this season that one of Memphis’ five starters had not played in a game.

Knicks point guard Jason Kidd missed New York’s game against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night because of back spasms. With Kidd hurting, the Knicks told Kidd not to make the trip to Barclays Center and cause further discomfort during the ride. They planned to start forward Kurt Thomas in a big lineup, moving Ronnie Brewer (Fayetteville, Arkansas Razorbacks) to the guard spot. Kidd is averaging 8.0 points and 3.4 assists in his first season with the Knicks.

Sports, Pages 16 on 11/27/2012

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