Tampa Bay Inks Luke Scott to One-Year Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays landed a huge off-season move this afternoon. The team announced today that veteran slugger Luke Scott has signed a $2.75 million, one-year contract.

This contract comes after Scott had a very disappointing season with Tampa last year. In Scott’s first year as a part of the Rays, he had a batting average of .229 with only 14 homers in 96 games. When initially signed after coming over from the Baltimore Orioles, the Rays anticipated he would be the power-hitter they would need to put them over the top and be the rock in the lineup for another playoff push.

Instead, the Rays were more worried about his health than his major power numbers. Last season, the DH spent two different times on the DL, once with a back injury and the other with an oblique strain that kept him out for about a month.

Scott is on the record saying that he loves Tampa Bay and hoping that he could stay for the 2013 season. Since his arrival in 2012, fans have accepted Scott with open arms, especially making it known with their famous “LUKE” chant every time that he comes up to the plate.

2013 should be a year that Scott will look at as a comeback. After his 2012 year with poor statistics and below average play, missing 45 games, the 34-year-old will look to return to his eye-popping statistics and superb performance at the dish.