| Peralta will reportedly remain in Tampa Bay. (US Presswire) |
The Tampa Bay Rays and free agent relief pitcher Joel Peralta have agreed to terms on a new contract, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com has confirmed. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports the deal is for two years and $6 million with a $2.5 million option for the 2015 season. The deal is pending a physical.
Peralta, 36, had a 3.63 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched last season for the Rays. He stranded 65 percent of the 26 runners he inherited.
Perhaps the most noise made around Peralta in 2012, though, was the pine tar incident. He was ejected June 19 for a "foreign substance" on his glove and was subsequently suspended for eight games.
With Fernando Rodney coming back as the closer, expect Peralta to again be the Rays' eighth-inning setup man. He recorded 37 holds in that role in 2012.
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