All-Star right-hander Charlie Morton could earn $45 million over three seasons

ST. PETERSBURG http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , Fla. (AP) — with the Tampa Bay Rays if he doesn’t have lengthy injury problems the next two years and the team exercises a $15 million option for 2021.Morton is guaranteed $15 million in each of the next two seasons as part of the deal announced Dec. 21.Tampa Bay has a $1 million option for 2021, but the price increases depending on disabled list time during the next two seasons: $3 million for 151-200 DL days, $5 million for 91-150, $10 million for 31-90 and $5 million for 15 or fewer.He would get a $1 million assignment bonus if traded before the end of this season, $500,000 if traded after.Morton was 15-3 with a 3.13 ERA last year for Houston, making a career-high 30 starts. He was 46-71 with Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia before going to Houston, and he had Tommy John surgery in June 2012.He joins a Rays staff led by AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.Tampa Bay’s rotation was wrecked by injuries last year http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , and the team often used relief pitchers as starters in their “opener” strategy on the way to 90 wins.The Rays’ approach became a trend in baseball, especially when teams saw how well it worked. Tampa Bay went 46-38 with traditional starters and was 44-34 when using relievers at the start. Not long after he was traded to the Seattle Mariners, the Tampa Bay Rays are set to acquire former Cleveland Indians slugger Edwin Encarnacion in a three-team trade.Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic had the details of the trade.Encarnacion to #Mariners, Carlos Santana to #Indians in three-team trade, sources tell The Athletic. #Rays also involved, getting player from CLE. First: @jonheyman.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2018Money exchanged in the three-team trade, per source:$5M from #Rays to #Mariners.$6M from #Mariners to #Indians.Encarnacion owed $25M for one year, including $5M buyout.Santana Wade Davis Jersey , headed to #Indians, owed $35M for two years, including $500K buyout.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 13, 2018So Encarnacion's tenure as a Seattle Mariner will be very short and sweet. The Mariners acquired Carlos Santana from the Philadelphia Phillies in the Jean Segura blockbuster trade completed last week. In flipping Santana to Cleveland and Encarnacion back to Tampa, the rebuilding Mariners clear out more money.As for the Rays, the front office finally聽found that slugger they've wanted for quite some time. The addition of Encarnacion comes a day after Tampa signed former Houston Astros pitcher Charlie Morton to a two-year deal worth $30 million.advertisingEncarnacion is in the final season of a three-year deal worth $60 million, signed with the Indians in the 2016 offseason. He was part of two AL Central division winning teams, but Encarnacion's stats dipped significantly when he left the Toronto Blue Jays for 'The Land'. Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY SportsDespite a lower batting average and higher strikeout rate in Cleveland, Encarnacion remains one of the most potent sluggers in all off baseball. He's now hit 30-plus homers in seven straight years http://www.rockiesfanproshop.com/authentic-chad-bettis-jersey , with at least 100 RBIs in six of those seasons.advertisingWhat This MeansThe Rays finished with a 90-72 record last season, good for third in the AL East. With a new standout pitcher in Morton and a big time hitter on the way, this team has the chance to make some serious noise and contend for the playoffs.Cleveland brings back a fan favorite that spent eight years in the organization, all while cutting payroll. And the Mariners clear out even more money as they try to save up, with an eye on the future.This looks like a clear win-win for all three teams.