Rays make non-tender moves

A little more than an hour before the non-tender deadline on Saturday night, the Rays struck one-year deals with catcher Dioner Navarro, right-hander Lance Cormier and lefty Randy Choate, while choosing to non-tender right fielder Gabe Gross and catcher Shawn Riggans.



The rest of their players - including a remaining seven who are arbitration eligible - were tendered contracts.

Navarro, who could've made in the $2.5 million-$3million range in arbitration, is signed on for $2.1 million, while Cormier got $1.2 million and Choate inked a deal for $700,000.

The Navarro move is a bit of a surprise, considering the Rays acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach from the Indians for a player to be named later on Dec. 1. Shoppach was tendered a contract and could get about $2.5 million in arbitration, and it seems like he could platoon with Navarro behind the plate in 2010 - though the option to trade one of them is still there.

The Rangers were said to be interested in Navarro, but only if he was non-tendered.

Gross, who made $1.255 million while batting .227 in 115 games this past season, looked to be without a role for next season, as Gabe Kapler was resigned and Matt Joyce could be ready for the big leagues next season.

Riggans was also a bit of a surprise, considering he was not yet eligible for arbitration, but the 29-year-old played in just seven games for the Rays in '09 and seems to be the odd man out with Navarro and Shoppach currently on board behind the plate.