ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Reliever Grant Balfour agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, avoiding arbitration.
The AL champions also agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Lance Cormier, who became a free agent last month when Baltimore failed to offer a 2009 contract. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Dewon Day was designated for assignment.
Balfour was 6-2 with four saves and a 1.54 ERA in 51 games for the Rays last season. He struck out 82 batters in 58 1-3 innings, a 12.65 strikeouts per nine innings ratio, ninth best all-time among AL relievers.
The 31-year-old right-hander’s .143 opponents batting average was second among major league relievers.
His deal was agreed to Thursday and announced by the Rays on Friday.
Cormier spent most of 2008 with the Orioles after beginning the season at Triple-A Norfolk. He was 3-3 with a save and a 4.02 ERA in 45 appearances, including one start.
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