Links - Rays finalize trade for Soriano sign him to 1year - North River Minor Hockey Association

Rays finalize trade for Soriano sign him to 1year deal LOGINREGISTERHELPYOU ARE NOT LOGGED IN NHLNBAMLBCFLNFLCurlingTennisGolfSoccerNASCARFormula OneIndyCar NASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesNationwideCamping WorldAuto RacingWorld JuniorsSpengler CupMenS WHCWomenS WHCHockey CanadaAHLBoxingCanada GamesCHLCISECHLFigure SkatingLacrosseMMANCAASkiingSummer SportsWinter SportsMoreOlympicsFantasyDaily LineShowsTSN TalentCommunityMainScoresScheduleStandingsStatisticsArizonaAtlantaChicago CubsCincinnatiColoradoFloridaHoustonLA DodgersMilwaukeeNY MetsPhiladelphiaPittsburghSan DiegoSan FranciscoSt LouisWashingtonBaltimoreBostonChicago WSoxClevelandDetroitKansas CityLA AngelsMinnesotaNY YankeesOaklandSeattleTampa BayTexasToronto TeamsPlayersInjuriesTransactionsDaily LineMLB on TSNeotText SizeST PETERSBURG Fla The Tampa Bay Rays completed a trade with the Atlanta Braves on Friday acquiring righthanded pitcher Rafael Soriano and agreeing to a US$725 million oneyear contract with the relieverThe deal sent righthander Jesse Chavez to the Braves who werent willing to give Soriano a longterm contract and recently signed free agent relievers Billy Wagner and Takashi SaitoThe Rays were searching for bullpen help after the lack of a proven closer contributed to the 2008 American League champions not failing to reach the playoffs With several pitchers sharing the role Tampa Bay wound up with 22 blown saves eighth most in the major leaguesSoriano had a careerbest 27 saves in 31 opportunities for the Braves In 75 23 innings he struck out 102 while walking 27We had our eyes on different guys but I dont think any that make us feel as confident about our bullpen heading into the season as we do now said Andrew Friedman the Rays executive vicepresident of baseball operationsThe last thing Friedman expected when he headed to this weeks winter meetings was to get a reliever wholl cost the budgetconscious Rays so much money But when he learned Soriano had accepted an offer of arbitration from the Braves Friedman huddled with team officials and received permission from principal owner Stuart Sternberg to pursue a dealI chose salary arbitration because they had showed interest in keeping me Then they said I was too expensive and that I wasnt going to be their closer Soriano said from the Dominican RepublicEither way I think everything turned out the way it was supposed to and Im happy to be part of Tampa Bays team now I had been speaking to my agent and preparing mentally for whatever may happen and wherever I may end upSoriano who turns 30 on Dec 19 ranked second among major league relievers in strikeouts and held opponents to a 194 batting average last season 12th lowest in the National League In eight seasons with the Braves and Seattle Mariners hes 818 with a 292 earnedrun average and 43 savesLast week at this time Stu said there wouldnt be a $7 million...