On this date in 1997, the fledgling Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed free agent 1B/OF Paul Sorrento to a two year deal valued at $5.25M with an option for a third year.
Sorrento had been a solid hitter over the first half of the decade, splitting time between the Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners. He was coming off the best season of is career in 1997, in which he slashed .269/.345/.514 with a career high of 31 HR over 146 games.
The Devil Rays would make Sorrento their starting Designated Hitter in 1998 and he hit 6th during the first game in franchise history.