Rays avoid arbitration with Upton, Price

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Centerfielder B.J. Upton and pitchers David Price and Burke Badenhop have agreed to one-year contracts with the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding arbitration. The deals reached before Tuesday's deadline for teams and players to exchange salary proposals will pay Upton 7 million, Price's 4.35 million and Badenhop 1,075,000 next season. Upton earned 4.85 million last year, when he batted .243 with 23 homers and 81 RBI's. A two-time All-Star, Price made 1.5 million while going 12-13 with a 3.49 ERA. Badenhop was acquired in a trade this winter after the reliever went 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA in 50 appearances for the Florida Marlins. Reliever J.P. Howell agreed to a 1.35 million, one-year contract on Monday. The agreements left pitcher Jeff Niemann as the team's only player in arbitration.