PORT CHARLOTTE (WDAE) -- People will remember now that his last name rhymes with wow.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report that the Tampa Bay Rays and infielder Brandon Lowe have agreed to a six-year deal worth $24 million that contains two club option years, and could total as much as $49 million if all options and incentive bonuses are reached. The team has confirmed the signing.
Lowe made his debut with the Rays in 2018 after starting the year in Double-A Montgomery, hitting .233 with six home runs and 25 runs batted in in 43 contests.
“We believe Brandon has the potential to make a longstanding impact at the major league level,” Rays Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Erik Neander said in a statement. “He’s shown both an advanced feel for hitting and the ability to drive the ball to all fields, and he’s quickly becoming a versatile defender who can help us in many ways. Brandon’s development, both offensively and defensively, is a testament to his commitment to his craft, and a credit to all of our staff who have scouted, coached and worked with him. With this agreement, we’re excited to cement his place in our young core for years to come.”
With just 58 days in the majors, Lowe becomes the fourth player in club history to sign a long-term extension with less than a full season on major league service time, joining third baseman Evan Longoria (24 days in 2008), and pitchers Matt Moore (17 days in 2011) and Chris Archer (156 days in 2014).
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