Rays renew Snell's contract with raise of just $15,500

Blake Snell has a shiny 2018 Cy Young Award sitting on the shelf but his pocketbook didn't prosper as a result. The American League's top pitcher had his contract renewed by the Tampa Bay Rays and will make $573,700 in 2019, a raise of just $15,500 from last year's pay of $558,200.

Snell has just over two seasons of service time so the Rays were within their rights to renew the contract. Snell finished 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA in 31 starts last season to earn the award. "The Rays have the right under the collective-bargaining agreement to renew me at or near the league-minimum salary," Snell said in a statement released by Adam Karon and Tripper Johnson, his agents at Sosnick, Cobbe & Karon.

"They also have the ability to more adequately compensate me, as other organizations have done with players who have similar achievements to mine. The Rays chose the former. "I will have no further comment and look forward to competing with my teammates and field staff in our quest to win the World Series in 2019."

Snell will be eligible for arbitration prior to the 2020 campaign. The minimum salary in 2019 is $555,000.