The Rays, who needed a win that night to keep their division lead over Boston, went on to do just that. Relief pitcher J. P. Howell, starting pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett all signed one-year contracts to avoid salary arbitration. Only center fielder B. J. Upton went to salary arbitration, though he did state he was interested in a long-term deal with the Rays. Upton's arbitration case was held on February 12. He asked for $3.3 million, but the case was awarded to the Rays, meaning he would make $3 million instead. On February 3, 2010, the Rays signed reliever Mike Ekstrom, recently waived by the San Diego Padres, to a minor-league contract and placed him on the 40-man roster. Catcher Alvin Colina and reliever Heath Phillips were also signed to minor-league contracts and invited to spring training. One day after the end of the 2008 season, the Rays let hitting coach Steve Henderson go. Quality assurance coach Todd Greene would not return either, as the position was eliminated. Derek Shelton was hired as the team's new hitting coach on October 21. Shelton had been with the Cleveland Indians in the previous five seasons. On February 3, the Rays announced a naming deal with fertilizer manufacturer The Mosaic Company for Charlotte County Stadium, their spring training facility, changing its name to "Mosaic Field at Charlotte Sports Park." However, after public opposition to this deal was made known, the plans were "deferred", and the stadium would continue to be known as Charlotte Sports Park. Rocco Baldelli returned to the Rays on March 2 as a "special assistant" who would work with younger players. Baldelli stated that he hurt his shoulder in the previous season playing for the Boston Red Sox that may require surgery, and though he felt uncomfortable going into Spring training, he was "not ready to retire" and was hopeful to play again some day. Andrew Friedman, the Rays' Vice President of Baseball Operations, said that the one-year deal was not done with the intention of bringing Baldelli back as a player in 2010, but also said that "anything's possible." Infielder Hank Blalock was signed to a minor-league contract on March 8. Blalock was first reported to be interested in signing with either the Rays or the Florida Marlins just days before the deal was made. Catcher Dioner Navarro injured his left leg on March 20 during a game against the Minnesota Twins, after Twins outfielder Jacque Jones collided with him at the plate.