Rarely in a decade of baseball have the Rays enjoyed the luxury of a dominant bullpen. Some groups have shown flashes of brilliance, and some have gone as far as to post wholly successful seasons. But never has an achievement at the back end of the Tampa Bay's bullpen lasted.

Perhaps until now.

The Rays officially signed closer Troy Percival to a two-year contract worth $8 million on Friday morning, taking a big first step toward what could become a full-scale bullpen makeover.

"We've kind of been on a quest the last year to get to the exact position that we're in today," vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "We feel like when we have leads going into the ninth inning, we're going to win a whole lot more times than not."

Percival, 38, could make up to $12 million based on a series of incentive clauses, and, according to Friedman, will serve as the team's primary closer.

By signing Percival, the Rays now boast a pitcher with 324 career saves, good for 12th on the all-time list. Percival made a comeback with the Cardinals last season after missing nearly two full seasons with a right forearm injury -- and officially retiring and signing a coaching contract in the interim -- and has now parlayed that comeback into a long-term deal.

With the Cardinals, Percival finished 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA, even starting his first Major League game after 638 career relief appearances. He holds a 3.02 lifetime ERA over 12 years with the Angels, Tigers and Cards.

"It's a great opportunity," Percival said. "It's something I love doing forever. I relish throwing in the ninth inning, and it was actually a little boring not throwing in the ninth inning last year."

The move should knock Al Reyes back into a setup role, after he earned 26 saves with the Rays in 2007. It should also improve a bullpen that finished last in the Majors with a 6.16 ERA last season, and that was second in the league with 34 losses in relief.

The signing is Tampa Bay's first big free-agent splash, and the team's second significant move in a week. On Wednesday, the Rays dealt top prospect Delmon Young and two other players to the Twins for starter Matt Garza, shortstop Jason Bartlett and Minor League reliever Eduardo Morlan.

That move all but finalized the team's lineup, though the Rays could still search for catching and outfield help this offseason. Perhaps even more importantly, it fortified a rotation that has traditionally been a major weakness in Tampa Bay. The Rays now have three strong starters to lead the rotation, and, as of Friday, a potentially dominant closer to anchor the bullpen.

Percival and setup men Reyes and Dan Wheeler all boast experience closing games, though Percival's resume certainly dwarfs those of his new teammates. Combined, they give manager Joe Maddon an arsenal unlike any he's had in his two years with the Rays.

"I think we've made tremendous strides from where we were last year," Friedman said. "That said, I'm not sure we're ever going to get to a point where we're content. To the extent where we can further upgrade the bullpen, we will, but if not, we feel like it's certainly much improved -- and not only that, but it will actually help us win games next year."

That's not to say any of Friedman's moving and shaking will vault the Rays directly to the top of the league. There's still a long path to travel, and plenty of questions remain.

Percival raises some of those uncertainties himself, mainly due to the health issues that forced him into an extended early retirement. At 38, questions are sure to surround him for the rest of his career -- however long that may be. And he's determined to put them all to rest.

"I feel great," Percival said. "At the end of my time in St. Louis, I actually felt better than I did in the beginning, and that's a great sign."

And that made giving Percival a multiyear deal a slightly easier proposition.

"Troy is the consummate professional, and knows how to take care of himself and knows how to prepare," Friedman said. "We feel like he's going to be able to really help this team for at least the next two years, and I think he proved to everybody that he was healthy last year."

The Rays might appear like an odd choice for a veteran player looking to win another ring, but Percival had a strong motive. The Rays -- unlike other teams pursuing him -- offered him a chance to close. The move also reunites him with Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach for the majority of Percival's career in Anaheim.

The two won a World Series together in 2002, and thoughts of another one in Tampa Bay -- historically, an inconceivable proposition -- appear closer now than they've ever been in a decade of Rays baseball.

"Anywhere I go, I expect to win," Percival said. "I'm not foreshadowing or foreseeing a World Series championship, but I'm not discounting it, either."