Rays officially ink Kiermaier to 6-year, $53.5M extension
A major piece of the Tampa Bay Rays' future is staying put.
The Rays made things official with Kevin Kiermaier on Monday, announcing the Gold Glove center fielder has signed a six-year, $53.5-million contract extension.
OFFICIAL: The #Rays have signed Kevin Kiermaier to a six-year contract, including a club option for 2023. pic.twitter.com/LwCL1m8xn0
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 20, 2017
Kiermaier's deal, which includes a club option for 2023, covers all four of his arbitration years and delays his free agency by at least two seasons. The option and incentives within the contract could push its total financial value to $66.15 million, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
"This was an easy decision for me to be honest," the former 31st-round draft pick told reporters at a press conference Monday morning, according to Topkin. "I'm the happiest man on the planet right now.
"Tampa Bay, St. Pete will be my home for the rest of my life," Kiermaier added. "No matter what happens in my career."
All told, it's the second-largest contract ever handed out by the notoriously small-market Rays, trailing only Evan Longoria's six-year, $100-million deal that also begins this season.
The Rays, who fielded the majors' second-lowest payroll in 2016, have now signed three of their core players in Kiermaier, Longoria, and ace Chris Archer to lucrative extensions that will keep the trio together at Tropicana Field through at least 2019.
Kiermaier, the two-time defending AL Gold Glove winner in center field, is coming off a breakout campaign at the plate in 2016. Despite a wrist injury limiting him to just 105 games, the 26-year-old posted a .246/.331/.410 line with 12 homers, 40 walks, and 21 stolen bases.