Rays Give Rookie Matt Moore Five-Year, $14 Million Contract

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed rookie starting pitcher Matt More to a five-year, $14 million deal, sources have told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.

The deal includes several club options that could keep the hurler under club control for over eight years, according to Crasnick, with a value that could reach as high as $40 million. The team is expected to announce the contract this afternoon.

Moore, 22, has played in just three regular season Major League games for the Rays, however he is considered by many to be one of the top pitching prospects in the game. Moore pitched two games in the 2011 playoffs for the Rays, including a notable start in which he posted seven scoreless innings, allowing only two hits en route to striking out six Rangers batters. In 10 postseason innings he posted a 0.70 ERA, eight strikeouts, and three hits.

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