Home › Sports › MLB
Rays sign Kazmir to three-year extension
STORY TOOLS 
More from MLBTampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir agreed Wednesday to a $28.5 million, three-year extension through 2011, a deal with a club option that could raise the contract's value to $39.5 million over four seasons.
The 2007 AL strikeout champion is 36-30 with a 3.63 ERA in 100 major league appearances, including 99 starts. He began this season on the 15-day disabled list after straining his left elbow, but returned to the rotation on May 4.
The 24-year-old, 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA last season, was an All-Star in 2006. He is Tampa Bay's career leader in wins, strikeouts, starts and innings pitched.
Hank Steinbrenner says Yankees must play smarter: Hank Steinbrenner expects his struggling New York Yankees to focus and turn around their season.
"They've got to play smarter and harder," he said Wednesday, even before manager Joe Girardi called a pregame meeting.
"The injuries — when you're missing Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, that makes it tough," Steinbrenner said. "The injuries make a huge difference. At the same time, you've got to get it done. We still have plenty of good hitters. We need to get the job done."
New York is fourth in the AL East behind Tampa Bay, the surprise division leader.
"No question, the Rays are a hungry team," said Steinbrenner, the Yankees' co-chairman. "That's what our team has to get back."
When asked if it was time for the players to earn their money, Steinbrenner said "Yes."
Orioles' Hoey out for season: Jim Hoey, who pitched in 23 games for Baltimore last year, will miss the rest of the season following shoulder surgery.
Rangers activate Byrd, send Metcalf to Oklahoma: Outfielder Marlon Byrd was activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Texas Rangers, who optioned third baseman Travis Metcalf to Triple-A Oklahoma.
Byrd had been out since April 17 with inflammation in his left knee.
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.