Rays pick up Eovaldi's club option for 2018
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ST. PETERSBURG -- Eight free agents came off the Rays' 40 man roster on Thursday, four players were activated from the 60-day disabled list and the club picked up right-hander Nathan Eovaldi's club option for 2018.
Tampa Bay's 40-man roster now stands at 36.
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The free agents include Peter Bourjos, Steve Cishek, Alex Cobb, Lucas Duda, Tommy Hunter, Logan Morrison, Trevor Plouffe and Sergio Romo.
After the 5 p.m. ET Monday deadline passes, players are free to sign with new teams. The Rays will need to decide whether to making a one-year, $17.4 million qualifying offer to Cobb. If Cobb turns it down within the allotted 10 days, they would receive Draft pick compensation when he signs elsewhere.
Activated from the 60-day DL were Matt Duffy, Eovaldi, Taylor Guerrieri and Shawn Tolleson.
Eovaldi, who was returning from Tommy John surgery, signed with the Rays on Feb. 14. He made $2 million in 2017, but he did not appear in any games for Tampa Bay. The option the club exercised was worth $2 million.
Eovaldi is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation in 2018.