ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to one-year contracts with right-handed pitcher Jeff Niemann and infielder Ryan Roberts, along with outfielders Matt Joyce and Sam Fuld to avoid arbitration.
Niemann, who turns 30 next month, will earn $3 million, the team announced Friday. The 32-year-old Roberts received $2.95 million plus incentives. Joyce gets $2.45 million, and Fuld will earn $725,000.
The 31-year-old Fuld batted .255 with seven stolen bases and 14 runs scored after missing the first 96 games of last season while recovering from surgery to repair ligaments in his right wrist. The 28-year-old Joyce had 17 home runs, 59 RBIs and a career-high 55 walks.
Niemann was 2-3 with a 3.08 ERA in eight starts. Roberts hit 12 homers with 52 RBIs for the Rays and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
