The Tampa Bay Rays and Joel Peralta reached an agreement Tuesday afternoon in order to avoid arbitration. While the terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, it's expected to be a one-year deal worth around $2 million.
↵Peralta was one of the Rays' most dependable reliever last season, posting a 2.93 ERA and 3.37 FIP as the set-up man to closer Kyle Farnsworth. He pitched in 67.2 innings, the most he's thrown in the majors in one season since 2007, and provided the Rays with a shut-down option in the back end of their bullpen. He will likely be used in a similar role in 2012.
↵The Rays still have five other arbitration eligible players that they have not reached deals with: David Price, B.J. Upton, J.P Howell, Jeff Niemann, and Burke Badenhop. They will likely reach deals with many of these players instead of going to arbitration, although Upton and Price may choose to go to a hearing if they anticipate they can receive a larger salary that way. The Rays have yet to lose an arbitration hearing under Andrew Friedman, but there's always a first time for everything.
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