Gomes non-tendered, now a free agent

The Rays declined to tender a contract to Jonny Gomes by Friday's midnight deadline, making the 28-year-old outfielder/DH a free agent.
Gomes, who has been with the Rays parts of six seasons, is coming off a rough season in which he hit .182 with 8 homers and 21 RBIs in 77 games, and was in line through the arbitration process to make about $1.5-million.
The Rays tendered contracts to their five remaining arbitration eligible players, who will all get healthy raises - INF Willy Aybar, RHP Grant Balfour, SS Jason Bartlett, OF Gabe Gross and C Dioner Navarro.
Also, one of the free agents the Rays were considering to add to their lineup, OF Raul Ibanez, was crossed off the list after agreeing to a reported 3-year, $30-million deal with the Phillies.

Comments

[shuturyap]

Gomes should have tried staying out of the bar nightly and he may have had a clearer head.

[McLovin]

Jonny was like the Mike Alstott of the Rays in a sense.

You knew he was going to have to go sometime, but you just didn't want him to because you liked him that much as a person.

I've always said that if Jonny was a minor-leaguer with the Rays, that would be good enough for me because he'll be able to get all the skills down and hopefully he'd be brought up for good one day.

[skp]

apparently he's getting his vision checked out this offseason? if that's a legitimate hindrance to his hitting, maybe he's worth signing back into the minors...

that being said, for the last 2 seasons i've been wondering what business he has playing Major League Baseball...heck of a mascot, and by all accounts a great teammate, but well below par as a player

[TriplePlay]

I hope we resign him but I believe his Rays days are over. Too bad - this guy is such a competitor - if only we had a hitting coach that could teach him to protect the plate.

[MarkFidrych]

With us getting Joyce,why offer Gross arbitration? Perez would be a better option this year as a 4th OFer.

[Caleb]

gomes = epic fail