St. Petersburg, FL (My Sportsbook) - The Tampa Bay Rays have signed outfielder/designated hitter Pat Burrell to a two-year deal. Financial terms were not released, but numerous reports have stated that the contract will be worth $16 million. Burrell, who made $14 million a year ago, hit .250 with 33 home runs and drove in 86 runs for the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies last season. He had spent his entire nine-year career in Philadelphia, averaging 31 homers and 99 RBI over the past four seasons. The 32 year-old Burrell has also struck out at least 120 times each of the last nine years but has averaged more than 100 walks the past four seasons. Burrell, who figures to be used primarily as Tampa's DH, routinely came out of games in the late innings for defensive purposes and struggled during the postseason, hitting just .227, including a miserable 1-for-14 effort in the World Series against the Rays. Philadelphia chose not to offer Burrell arbitration and instead signed Raul Ibanez to a three-year, $31.5 million deal. Burrell's best season came in 2002 when he batted .282 with 37 home runs, 116 RBI and 96 runs scored. He has 251 career home runs and became just the second player in Phillies history with eight straight 20-HR seasons, joining Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt (14 straight, 1974-87).
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