Rays deal Longoria, cash to Giants for Span, 3 prospects
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants found the offense-producing third baseman they sought this offseason, acquiring Evan Longoria and cash from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday for outfielder Denard Span, infielder Christian Arroyo and two minor league pitchers.
The 32-year-old Longoria leaves Tampa Bay as the longest-tenured player in franchise history, after spending nearly 10 seasons in a Rays uniform. He is the club’s all-time leader with 1,435 games played, 261 home runs and 892 RBIs. Of the 30 postseason games in Rays history, all 30 have featured Longoria starting at third base.
Longoria batted .261 with 20 homers and 86 RBIs last season. He is expected to fill a significant void for San Francisco at third. Longoria, a threetime All-Star, was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2008 and won three Gold Gloves.
In November 2012, Longoria received a $136.6 million, 10-year contract with Tampa Bay that added six guaranteed seasons and $100 million to his previous deal. It includes a team option for 2023 that could make the agreement worth $144.6 million over 11 years.
Span, 33, has hit .283 with 60 homers and 432 RBIs over 10 years in the majors, but San Francisco was looking for more athleticism and steady defense in the outfield.
Arroyo, a first-round draft pick out of high school in 2013, was one of the Giants’ top prospects but didn’t play in the majors after June 2 because of a broken left hand. The Giants also are sending righthander Stephen Woods and lefthander Matt Krook to the Rays.
Orioles’ Britton injures Achilles
Orioles closer Zach Britton ruptured his right Achilles tendon in offseason training, a significant injury that could cause him to miss part of the 2018 season. In a tweet announcing the injury, the team said Britton was injured Tuesday while training in California.
Britton had 15 saves and a 2.89 ERA with the Orioles this past season. In 2016, had a 0.54 ERA and was perfect in save opportunities with a major league-leading 47.
The lefthander is arbitration eligible after making $11.4 million last season. Britton can become a free agent after next season.
Odds and ends
Reliever Juan Nicasio finalized a $17 million, two-year contract with the Mariners that gives Seattle another hard-throwing arm out of its bullpen. … A person familiar with negotiations said the Nationals have agreed to terms in principle on a $4 million, one-year contract with first baseman Matt Adams, a deal pending a successful physical. … Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was given a contract extension. The length of his new deal was not specified. … Pitcher Tom Koehler and the Dodgers finalized a $2 million, one-year contract, a deal that raises next year’s projected luxury tax payroll of the NL champions to $183 million.