The Tampa Bay Rays have decided that catcher Mike Zunino‘s performance in 2021 is worthy of him being a seven million dollar man.
The team picked up the option on the catcher for the 2022 season, which will pay him $7 million for the year.
Zunino, who made his first All-Star team, finished with a slash line of .216/.301/.559 in 109 games, and set a new franchise record for homers by a catcher with 33.
In addition, Tampa Bay also emptied its injured list, reinstating pitchers Jalen Beeks, Yonny Chirinos, Tyler Glasnow, Colin Poche, Jeffrey Springs, and Ryan Thompson to the 40-man roster. They also selected catcher Rene Pinto to the 40-man roster and designated left-hander Adam Conley for assignment.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
