ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays announced on Tuesday that Logan Morrison has signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with $1.25 million in incentives.
The official announcement coincided with the news that the Rays had traded left-hander Enny Romero to the Nationals in exchange for Minor League right-hander Jeffrey Rosa in return and also created room on the 40-man roster for Morrison.
In 2016 with the Rays, Morrison hit .238 with 14 homers and 43 RBIs in 107 games, including a team-high 78 starts at first base. His season was cut short by two injuries: A right forearm strain that put him on the disabled list for 16 games and a left wrist strain that sidelined him for the final 20 games.
Morrison hit .231 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 2016. Over seven Major League seasons with the Marlins, Mariners and Rays, Morrison is a career .245/.325/.416 hitter with 84 home runs and 297 RBIs.
Morrison's return would add to the roster flexibility in the aftermath of the John Forsythe trade that left a void at second base. It's been speculated that first baseman Brad Miller could move to second, and Morrison's arrival would seem to give that speculation some legs.
Romero, who can reach 99 mph with his fastball, has struggled with his command. After retiring the first 17 batters he faced in 2016 -- the longest streak to start a season in franchise history, he went on to post a 5.91 ERA, which ranks as the highest in club history by a left-handed reliever with a minimum of 50 appearances.
Rosa, 21, went 0-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 starts for the Gulf Coast League Nationals in 2016, his second professional season. He is 1-8 with a 3.83 ERA and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings in 24 career starts.