Rays exercise Crawford option, decline Baldelli

Following Monday's season-opening 6-2 win over Baltimore, the Tampa Bay Rays took care of some business off the field.

They exercised the $8.25-million US option in all-star Carl Crawford' contract for 2009 on Tuesday, while declining fellow outfielder Rocco Baldelli's $6-million option.

Relief pitcher Dan Wheeler also agreed to a three-year deal worth $10.5 million.

The 26-year-old Crawford, who is earning $5.25 million this year, is a two-time all-star and four-time American League stolen base champion who is just the seventh player since 1900 to increase his batting average over five consecutive seasons.

He is one of 10 major leaguers who have hit .300 or better each of the past three years.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity for this day," Crawford, who averaged .315 with 58 stolen bases last season, said in a statement released by the team. "I'm looking forward to being here for a long time because I think we're at the start of something great going on here."

Baldelli, also 26, has been sidelined since last May because of lingering hamstring problems and what doctors have told him and the Rays is mitochondrial disorder, a condition that causes extreme fatigue. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list last month.

Rather than exercise his option for 2009, the Rays bought out the final three years of his contract for $4 million. The club had a second option for 2010 and 2011.

Wheeler will earn $2.8 million this season, $3.2 million in 2009 and $3.5 million in 2010. The 2011 option is for $4 million with a $1 million buyout.

The 30-year-old had a 0-5 record and 5.76 earned-run average in 25 games with Tampa Bay in 2007 after being acquired in a trade from Houston.