Rays, Odorizzi working on extension
Though the Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly willing to listen to trade offers for all their starters (with the exception of Chris Archer), the club also appears eager to lock up one of its young hurlers.
The Rays have made a multi-year extension offer to right-hander Jake Odorizzi, the 25-year-old who trails only Archer for the team lead in innings pitched over the last two seasons. His agent, Jason Wood, confirmed mutual interest in working out an extension and is currently working on a counteroffer, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Acquired from the Kansas City Royals in 2012, Odorizzi remains under team control through the 2019 season and won't become eligible for salary arbitration until next year. Odorizzi, who finished eighth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2014, earned $522,000 last season.
In 2015, with Alex Cobb, Drew Smyly, and Matt Moore mostly absent from the rotation, Odorizzi enjoyed the finest season of his young career, posting career bests in WAR (2.9), ERA (3.35), WHIP (1.15), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.26).