Crain gets acquainted with new home

ST. PETERSBURG -- Jesse Crain was headed down the hallway at the back of the Rays' clubhouse until someone notified him that the bathroom was located on the opposite wall.

Crain, the Rays' only trade acquisition in advance of Wednesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, spent most of his first day at Tropicana Field getting acclimated to his new surroundings. That is about all the All-Star can do as he remains on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder.

He has not pitched since June 29. He experienced a setback when he threw too many pitches during a bullpen session with the White Sox that has further delayed his return.

"We don't have any specific timeframes yet," manager Joe Maddon said when asked about Crain's return. "All I know is that he's in the right hands with [Rays head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield]. We just anticipate it's going to be in time to help us."

Crain said he hoped to be pitching before the end of the month. Nonetheless, he was happy to be with his new team, the third in his 10-year career.

"To be traded while you're on the DL, it doesn't happen very often," Crain said. "Then to come to a team like this, first place, heard great things about them, how much fun they have, I couldn't ask for anything more."

While the Rays' primary plan is to get Crain healthy, he could certainly bolster the back end of a bullpen that has rounded into form after a shaky start to the season.

Exactly where Crain will fit in remains to be seen. In the Rays' ideal world, Jake McGee handles the seventh inning before Joel Peralta sets up closer Fernando Rodney, who has not blown a save since May 25.