Jake McGee (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $3.55 million contract with the Rays on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McGee (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $3.55 million contract with the Rays on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis:

Thanks in part to improved walk and swinging-strike rates (as well as a low 2.9% HR/FB rate), McGee was able to cut his ERA from 2013 by more than half, from 4.02 to 1.89, and shave nearly 30 points off his WHIP. He recorded 19 saves and 14 holds against just four blown saves, but the Rays will have to turn elsewhere in the ninth inning to begin 2015, as McGee is expected to open the year on the DL following arthroscopic elbow surgery in December.