ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rays have traded the face of their franchise, Evan Longoria, to the San Francisco Giants, according to multiple reports.
The Rays reportedly will be getting infielder Christian Arroyo, outfielder Denard Span and minor league pitchers Matt Krook and Stephen Woods in exchange for Longoria.
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Longoria has spent his entire ten year Major League Baseball career with the Rays and is arguably the most influential player in franchise history. As a rookie, he helped lead the team to their 2008 World Series appearance and won Rookie of the Year.
Longoria was a three-time MLB All-Star and and three-time Golden Glove winner with the Rays.
The once-franchise player has his mark all over the Rays' Tropicana Stadium. His restaurant, Ducky's, a successful sports bar in Tampa, has a presence inside the stadium. Also, the "162 Landing" section honors Longoria's home run that sent the Rays to the 2011 American League wild card.
Longoria will be owed $86 million through 2022.
We salute our greatest ever. #ThanksLongo pic.twitter.com/zWdN6pq1A9
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) December 20, 2017
#SFGiants have acquired three-time All-Star Evan Longoria from Tampa Bay in exchange for Denard Span, Christian Arroyo and minor league pitchers Stephen Woods and Matt Krook.
— #ThankYouBoch (@SFGiants) December 20, 2017
Thank you @Evan3Longoria for showin me the ropes the past 4 years...dude is ready to play EVERYDAY and that is very hard to do especially at an elite level #RESPECT
— Kevin Kiermaier (@KKiermaier39) December 20, 2017
This SUCKS / As a @RaysBaseball season ticket holder this really bothers me if valid / we pay for @MLB not Triple A @TBTimes_Rays @Evan3Longoria @ChrisArcher22 @ESPN App https://t.co/WmibVidegQ
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 20, 2017