Rays/MLB

Rays, Seo agree to one-year contract

By MARC TOPKIN
Published October 12, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays eliminated the first of six potential arbitration cases by signing right-hander Jae Seo to a one-year deal for $1.2-million plus incentives.

Seo was 1-8 with a 5.00 ERA in 17 games with the Rays after being acquired from Los Angeles in a June trade, though he may have deserved better. Seo allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his 16 starts and received the lowest run support in the American League over that period, 2.86 runs per game.

He was 2-4, 5.78 with the Dodgers before being traded with Dioner Navarro and minor-leaguer Justin Ruggiano to the Rays for Toby Hall, Mark Hendrickson and cash.

Seo, 29, has a career mark of 25-36 with a 4.27 ERA in 107 games (92 starts) over five seasons with the Mets, Dodgers and Rays.

The Rays addressed his contract status first because being a signed player simplifies his visa issues. He can make about $300,000 more in incentives.

The other five Rays eligible for arbitration are pitchers Travis Harper, Seth McClung and Tyler Walker, infielder Ty Wigginton and backup catcher Josh Paul.

REDS FIRE COACH: The Reds fired hitting coach Chris Chambliss after they endured an offensive slump in the last five weeks of the season and fell out of playoff contention.

Cincinnati finished 80-82, its sixth straight losing season, after collapsing down the stretch. The Reds were second in the NL in homers and walks yet ninth in runs.

NO OBJECTIONS: Alex Rodriguez's agent said the Yankees third baseman is pleased Joe Torre is staying on as manager. Torre dropped Rodriguez to eighth in the lineup last weekend in Detroit, where the Tigers eliminated the Yankees in the AL division series.

"I don't think he cares where the manager puts him," agent Scott Boras said. "Alex has a good relationship with Joe Torre."

Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 01:38:02]