Rays sign Luke Scott to one-year contract

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Tampa Bay Rays have signed free agent designated hitter Luke Scott to a one-year, major league contract.  To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays have designated for assignment right-handed pitcher Dane De La Rosa.

Scott, 34, will earn a base salary of $2.75 million in 2013.  The De Leon Springs, Fla., native spent his first season with the Rays in 2012 and hit .229 (72-for-314) with 14 home runs, 55 RBI and 22 doubles in 96 games.  He missed 45 games over two stints on the disabled list with back stiffness (June 9-28) and a mild strain of his right oblique (July 21-August 20).  He hit .260 (59-for-227) with 12 home runs against right-handed pitching in 2012 and is a .270 hitter with a .353 on-base percentage against righthanders for his career.

In eight major league seasons, the left-handed hitter has totaled 126 home runs and 396 RBI with a .260 batting average and .341 on-base percentage.  He has spent time with the Houston Astros (2005-07), Baltimore Orioles (2008-11) and Rays (2012).