The Tampa Bay Rays are close to signing free-agent Pat Burrell to a two-year, $16 million contract, according to major-league sources. Burrell, 32, will serve as the team's designated hitter. The Rays, nearing their payroll limit, could use some combination of Ben Zobrist, Gabe Gross and Fernando Perez in right field. The Rays had considered a number of free agents, including Milton Bradley and Jason Giambi, to fill either their DH or right-field vacancies. RealGM Note: Burrell was ranked 142nd in our FIC for 2008 and 'deserved' to make $6.5 million. He therefore had a Reina Value of -52%. Signing a free market player to a contract that pays just $1.5 million annually more than he is probably worth would represent a savvy signing from Andrew Friedman and the Rays.