ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Shortstop Yunel Escobar and the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a two-year contract extension covering 2015 and 2016 worth a guaranteed $13 million. The deal announced Saturday also includes a club option for 2017. The extension replaces a 2015 club option. The 31-year Escobar played in a career-high 153 games and made 149 starts last season for the Rays. After establishing club records with a .989 fielding percentage and 53 consecutive errorless games at shortstop, he was a finalist for the American League Gold Glove Award. "Hes a really, really good player at a position thats extremely scarce around the game," Tampa Bay executive vice-president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. Escobar brought up the idea of an extension with Friedman during spring training. "I really do feel happy here," Escobar said through an interpreter. "I think its one of the best things that ever happened in my career. Fortunately we were able to do something and get this contract." Over the previous three seasons, Escobars .982 fielding percentage at short ranks third in the majors -- with at last 400 starts -- behind Baltimores J.J. Hardy (.988) and Philadelphias Jimmy Rollins (.983). Last season Escobar hit. 256 with nine home runs, 56 RBIs and a career-high 27 doubles. He was acquired from Miami on Dec. 4, 2012, for infielder Derek Dietrich. Blue Jays Jerseys China . The Cubs made the moves before Thursdays game against Arizona. They promoted left-hander Zac Rosscup and right-hander Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Blake Parker to their top minor league team. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys . Scolari says that although Brazilians have the right to complain about the government and demand improvements, perhaps the protests wont be coming at the "right time. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/.ca. Hello Kerry, After watching Nino Niederreiter clobber Alex Burrows with an open-ice hit on Wednesday, do you think he should have gotten more than the two minutes for interference. Wholesale Blue Jays Jerseys . - Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte sees the commitment to the handoff and cant help but come away impressed. Toronto Blue Jays Store . Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers were left fretting over an MRI on the stars left knee. Paul George scored 21 points, Roy Hibbert added 19 and the Pacers used a dominant fourth quarter to blow out the Cavaliers 91-76 on Tuesday The Pacers (25-5) have won eight in a row over Cleveland, their longest active streak against any opponent. LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The PGA Championship will shift to late July instead of its usual early August start in 2016 as golf prepares to return to the Summer Olympics. The move was announced by the PGA of America, which will stage the 2016 edition July 28-31 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The British Open is set for July 14-17 at Royal Troon, leaving only 11 days between the final two majors of the year.dddddddddddd The Summer Olympics are set for August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The men and women golf competitors in those games will be determined by the World Golf Rankings as of July 11 that year. ' ' '