PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Reliever Phil Maton and the Tampa Bay Rays finalized a $6.5 million, one-year contract Wednesday, a deal that includes a 2025 club option and could be worth $14 million over two years.
Maton gets a $6.25 million salary this season, and the Rays have a $7.75 million option with a $250,000 buyout.
A 30-year-old right-hander, Maton was 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA with 74 strikeouts over 66 innings last year for Houston, his 89 mph average fastball velocity down 2 mph from 2022. Maton is 16-12 with a 4.25 ERA and two saves in 344 games over seven seasons with San Diego (2017-19), Cleveland (2019-21) and Houston (2021-23).
Tampa Bay announced the agreement Wednesday, the first day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers — and the first day the Rays could utilize the 60-day injured list. To open a roster spot, the Rays put left-hander Shane McClanahan on the 60-day IL. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21.