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Tampa Bay Rays Exercise $7.5M Option On Ben Zobrist

By Phil Watson

Sep 23, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Zobrist (18) hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ben Zobrist, the Swiss army knife of baseball, will remain with the Tampa Bay Rays after they exercised their $7.5 million option on his contract for 2015.

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Ben Zobrist, who has carved an All-Star career out of his versatility, will remain with the Tampa Bay Rays after the club exercised its $7.5 million option for 2015.

The deal was reported by MLB.com.

Zobrist hit .272/.354/.395 in 146 games last season, with 83 runs, 34 doubles, 10 home runs and 52 RBI.

He was an All-Star in 2009 and 2013 and was a player former Rays manager Joe Maddon could count upon to be ready to fill any hole in the lineup at any time.

Zobrist has been an every-day utility player over his nine years with Tampa Bay. In 2014, he started games at five different positions in the field and also was a designated hitter for seven games.

Zobrist started 74 games at second base, 23 at shortstop, 17 in left field, 16 in right field and seven in center field. He has also started games at first base and third base in his career.

He led the American League in WAR in 2011 with an 8.8 mark, finishing 0.4 ahead of eventual Most Valuable Player award winner Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers.

He was a sixth-round pick by the Houston Astros out of Oliver Nazarene University in Illinois in 2004. He was traded to the then-Devil Rays in July 2006 when Houston picked up left-handed bat Aubrey Huff for a failed playoff run.

Zobrist can be a free agent at the end of the 2015 season.

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