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Rays working on Yandy Diaz extension

A three-year, $24 million contract is in play for the arbitration-eligible infielder.
 
The Rays are trying to avoid an arbitration hearing with Yandy Diaz, with a new deal possibly finalized by Tuesday.
The Rays are trying to avoid an arbitration hearing with Yandy Diaz, with a new deal possibly finalized by Tuesday. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]
Published Jan. 28, 2023

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays are working on a contract extension for another arbitration-eligible player, corner infielder Yandy Diaz.

The sides are closing in a on a three-year, $24 million contract with a 2026 option, as MLB.com first reported, and the deal could be finalized by Tuesday.

Diaz is scheduled for an arbitration hearing, seeking a $6.3 million salary while the team offered $5.55 million. The Rays in the past week completed extensions with two pitchers who were otherwise headed to hearings, signing Jeffrey Springs to a four-year deal for a guaranteed $31 million and Pete Fairbanks for three years and a guaranteed $12 million.

Diaz, 31, hit .296 with nine homers and 57 RBIs last season, ranking third in the American League with a .401 on-base percentage and a career-high .824 OPS. He was one of six big-leaguers (with enough plate appearances to qualify for the leaderboards) to have more walks (78) than strikeouts (60).

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