Raid on Tampa Bay Rays players begins

The raid on the Tampa Bay Rays free agent players begins. It is being reported this afternoon that RP Joaquin Benoit has agreed to a deal with the Detroit Tigers. The terms of the deal as reported right now is a three year contract worth $16.5 million. Benoit is scheduled to make $5.5 million per season and can add up to an addition $1 million per season in incentives. Benoit joined the Rays this season after coming off rotator cuff surgery in January of 2009. He debuted for the Rays in April of this season for the Rays and put together a very impressive season. He was the set up man which worked the 8th inning ahead of releiver Rafael Soriano and the pair were a very dominant duo for the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Benoit finished the season with 60.1 innings pitched, he surrendered 30 hits, 9 earned runs, only issued 11 walks while striking out 75 batters. He only had three blown saves and completed 2010 with a 0.68 WHIP and a 1.34 ERA. He will be sorely missed in the Tampa Bay Ra...