ST. PETERSBURG (SNN-TV) – Today, the Tampa Bay Rays have a declined a $13M club option on CF Kevin Kiermaier for next season, triggering a $2.5M buyout and making the defensive whiz a free agent.
The 32-year old Kiermaier spent parts of 10 seasons with the Rays, who drafted him in the 31st round in 2010. He’s a three-time Gold Glove winner who batted .248 with 82 homers, 316 RBIs and 112 stolen bases over 914 career games.
The expected move, which completed a $53.5M, six-year contract, was expected after Kiermaier was limited to 63 games this year after “The Outlaw” had season-ending surgery on his left hip in August.
Kiermaier, a Gold Glove winner in 2015, 2016 and 2019, hit .228 with seven homers and 22 RBIs this year. He appeared in 29 postseason game for the Rays, batting .220 with four homers and 11 RBIs.
Kiermaier is now the 2nd-longest tenured Ray in team history, second only to former AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria.
