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MLB notebook: Rays sign OF Gomez

[February 22, 2018] Another day, another outfield transaction for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays reportedly agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with Carlos Gomez, who is expected to slot into right field after Steven Souza Jr. was traded Tuesday. Tampa Bay also designated Corey Dickerson for assignment on Saturday to make room for first baseman C.J. Cron, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels.

Gomez, 32, hit .255 with 17 home runs, 51 RBIs and an .802 OPS last season with the Texas Rangers.

Gomez, a two-time All-Star, has a .256 career average with 133 homers and 504 RBIs with the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros and Texas.

--The Miami Marlins signed Cameron Maybin to a one-year contract to help address their depleted outfield. The deal is worth a reported $3.25 million plus incentives for performance.

During the offseason, Marlins CEO Derek Jeter traded the team's starting outfield from 2017 -- Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna -- to reduce payroll.

Maybin, 30, batted .228 with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in 114 games last season with the Angels and Astros. He stole 29 bases for Los Angeles prior to being claimed off waivers by Houston on Aug. 31.

--The Baltimore Orioles officially signed right-hander Chris Tillman to a one-year, $3 million contract. He reportedly can earn an additional $7 million in the incentive-laden contract.

Tillman has gone 73-55 with a 4.43 ERA in 203 games (198 starts), spending all nine major league seasons with the Orioles. He collected 10 or more wins in four straight seasons (2013-16) and ranks tied for 12th in Orioles history (since 1954) in career wins.

Tillman struggled with shoulder injuries last season and went 1-7 with a 7.84 ERA in 93 innings over 19 starts and five relief appearances.

--The Orioles signed veteran outfielder Colby Rasmus to a one-year, minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training.

The 31-year-old Rasmus decided to return to baseball after spending the second half of last season on the restricted list because he wanted to "step away from baseball" while playing for the Rays.

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Rasmus, who was slowed by a hip injury last season, was hitting .281 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 37 games for the Rays when he left in mid-July. He has a .242 average with 165 home runs and 490 RBIs in nine seasons with St. Louis, Toronto, Houston and Tampa Bay.

--The Washington Nationals announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Joaquin Benoit and placed right-hander Joe Ross on the 60-day disabled list while he recovers from Tommy John surgery.

Benoit, 40, agreed to a deal on Monday that is worth a reported $1 million.

Benoit joins the Nationals after spending the 2017 season with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He posted a 4.65 ERA in 52 appearances between the two clubs.

--Astros right-hander Forrest Whitley, considered one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, has been suspended 50 games for violating the drug prevention and treatment program, Major League Baseball announced.

The 20-year-old Whitley was the Astros' first-round pick in 2016 (17th overall).

The 6-foot-7 hard-throwing starter advanced from low Class A to Double-A last season, going a combined 5-4 with a 2.83 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 92 1/3 innings with three minor league teams. Whitley made four appearances for Double-A Corpus Christi, posting a 1.84 ERA.

--Major League Baseball has cleared 21-year-old Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez to become a free agent. MLB.com reported he is likely to be free to sign as soon as March 6.

Based on revised international signing rules, Martinez could decide to wait for the 2018-19 signing period, which opens July 2. The current period closes June 15.

The Yankees and Marlins are reportedly favorites to sign the left-handed hitter, who has a combination of speed and power, per Baseball America. The Rangers are focused on Martinez as well, according to the Dallas Morning News.

--Field Level Media

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