James Loney's contract agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays seems to make everyone on the team happy. It's a three-year, $21 million deal for the 29-year-old first baseman.
Word of the pact will ripple across the offseason player market. For example, the Rays are no longer interested in trading for Ike Davis of the New York Mets or acquiring Mitch Moreland from the Texas Rangers.
While the Rays let Loney test the free-agent market, it had him first on its offseason shopping list.
"So pumped to have Loney back with us," Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist told TampaBay.com. "He's a pro in every way and makes us better as a team, both offensively and defensively."
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All that remains is for Loney to pass a physical. Closure on the accord is expected early next week.
Loney was a Gold Glove finalist and contributed to the offense with 13 home runs and 75 RBIs. He was a bargain at $2 million last season.
In a recent interview cited by TampaBay.com, team president Matt Silverman said recently on WDAE-AM 620. "We liked him. He fit in well. And we're a known quantity."
The Mets hope to peddle Davis, but it appears their likely return won't be great in a market with more first basemen available than teams interested. The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates are among possible partners, the New York Post noted.
Loney's deal last season came after a disappointing 2012 which saw him hit .249 with little power for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. He was part of the teams' blockbuster deal that send him to Boston and Adrian Gonzales to L.A.
His 2013 average was .294, and he continues to be a solid defensive player.