Rays sign Longoria to multimillion-dollar deal

Associated Press

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Rookie third baseman Evan Longoria and the Rays agreed to a six-year, $17.5 million contract, a deal that could be worth up to $44.5 million over nine seasons.

Longoria, taken third overall in the 2006 amateur draft, appeared in only six major league games before agreeing to the deal. If he isn't sent down to the minors again, he would be guaranteed $19 million.

"First of all, I like being here," Longoria said. "It's an enjoyable place to live and play. Why not be here and be part of the nucleus of the team, the core group of young guys?"

INJURIES AT CAMDEN YARDS: Two fans were injured at Camden Yards when a person fell about 20 feet from the club level onto another person in the lower deck.

The accident happened Thursday night near the end of Baltimore's 6-5 win against the White Sox.

CANSECO CLAIM: The person Jose Canseco claims was a steroid dealer he introduced to Alex Rodriguez was a trainer named Joseph Dion, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site Friday.

In an interview with the magazine Tuesday, Dion said he was against the use of performance- enhancing drugs.

Speaking before the Yankees played at Baltimore on Friday night, Rodriguez acknowledged knowing Dion.

"He's a Christian man, a good man. A great man, actually," Rodriguez said. "I'm very friendly with Joseph. But I don't really see him that often. I've probably seen him this winter, four or five times in passing. . . . In passing, (we talked) maybe three or four times a winter."

Rodriguez repeatedly has denied using performance-enhan- cing drugs, and Canseco has said he has no knowledge of drug use by Rodriguez.

ETC.: Ryan Klesko, through his agent, announced his retirement after 16 seasons. . . . Joba Chamberlain's father is breathing on his own but is still in critical condition. The Yankees pitcher missed his fifth straight game to be with his father. . . . Steve McNair threw out the first pitch at the Yankees-Orioles game. . . . Giants players must have thought they were home when a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook the St. Louis area early Friday morning. There were no injuries reported.