Rays agree to terms with Hellickson, Joyce, Lobaton, McGee, Ramos, Rodriguez for 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-The Rays have agreed to terms for the 2014 season with all six of their arbitration-eligible players: right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, outfielder Matt Joyce, catcher Jose Lobaton, left-handed pitcher Jake McGee, left-handed pitcher Cesar Ramos and infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez.

Hellickson, who turns 27 in April, went 12-10 in 2013 with a 5.17 ERA (174-IP, 100-ER) in 32 games, 31 starts. He ranked second on the Rays staff in victories behind Matt Moore (17). In four seasons with the Rays, he is 39-31 with a 3.70 ERA. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2011.

Joyce, 29, batted .235 (97-for-413) with 18 home runs and 47 RBI in 2013. The Tampa native ranked second on the team in home runs behind Evan Longoria, and drew a career-high 59 walks. The six-year veteran was an AL All-Star in 2011.

Lobaton, 28, started 76 games at catcher last year, his first full season in the majors. The switch-hitter batted .249 (69-for-277) with seven home runs and 32 RBI. In Game 3 of the 2013 American League Division Series he hit a walk-off home run into the Rays Touch Tank, a two-out blast in the ninth inning off Boston's Koji Uehara.

McGee, 27, went 5-3 with a 4.02 ERA (62.2-IP, 28-ER) over 71 appearances in 2013, second most among AL lefties. He compiled a 2.31 ERA (50.2-IP, 13-ER) over his final 56 games.

Ramos, 29, went 2-2 with a 4.14 ERA (67.1-IP, 31-ER) in 2013, his first full season in the majors. He set career highs in innings pitched, strikeouts (53) and games finished (25).

Rodriguez, 28, played in 94 games at five different positions for the Rays in 2013. He appeared in left field (47 games), first base (23 games), right field (eight games), shortstop (seven games) and second base (five games). He started 51 of the Rays 53 games vs. left-handed starters.

28 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers Report to Spring Training