The Tampa Bay Rays continued to lock up their young core with the signing of rookie third baseman Evan Longoria on Friday.

Longoria, 22, agreed to a six-year, $17.5 million US deal with the club that could increase to as much as $44 million over nine seasons.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Evan Longoria agreed Friday to a $17.5-million, six-year contract that could be worth up to $44 million over nine seasons.
(Paul Sancya/Associated Press)

The third baseman's deal has a team option for 2014 and includes a second option that covers 2015 and 2016.

The third overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft was called up from Triple-A Durham last Saturday when Willy Aybar was placed on the disabled list with a sore left hamstring.

Because Longoria was not on the Rays' roster for the first 13 days of the season, his eligibility to become a free agent was pushed back a full extra year until after 2014.

Longoria becomes the latest Tampa Bay prospect to sign long-term with the club. Starting pitcher James Shields as well as outfielders Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli were all drafted by Tampa and have signed long-term pacts with the club.

With files from the Associated Press