ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 14 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Rays have signed ace left-hander Scott Kazmir to a four-year contract extension.
The club said on its Web site before Wednesday night's game against the New York Yankees that the deal includes $28.5 million guaranteed and has a maximum value of about $39.5 million.
The Rays hold a signing option for the 2012 season.
"As we continue to win games and play in October we envision Scott anchoring the staff for us," Tampa Bay Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman told the St. Petersburg Times. "We envision it being a series of contracts that keeps Scott in this uniform for a long time."
To date, he is 1-1 with six walks and 11 strikeouts in 10 innings (two starts). He was sidelined until May 4 by a spring training elbow strain.
Kazmir has a 36-30 career record. In 2006, he became the youngest Tampa Bay player to make the American League All-Star team.
