Left fielder Carl Crawford’s $10 million club option was exercised by the Tampa Bay Rays today.  Crawfords skills of speed, and consistent hitting made this an easy choice of the Rays.  According to MLB.com, the Rays will need to negotiate a longer term deal with Crawford, otherwise if they do not sign him too a new deal either before the 2010 season or during it, he can become a free agent in the fall of 2010.  It would be wise for Tampa Bay to negotiate a lucrative long-term contract with Crawford given the solid core of youngsters such as Evan Longoria and David Price drooling at getting back to the World Series.

The Rays also declined options for 2010 on relief pitcher Brian Shouse and catcher Gregg Zaun.  They claimed pitcher Ramon Ramirez off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.  Shouse’s contract called for a $1.9 million salary in 2010 or a $200,000 buyout.