FORT MYERS, Fla -- Third baseman Matt Duffy, who missed all of last season with left foot ailments, was in the Rays' starting lineup for Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox, giving him back-to-back days of game activity, something manager Kevin Cash believes is important.
"Yes, it is [important] and that's kind of the schedule," Cash said. "Two at-bats, then we'll get him out, get him a day off and then probably do it again, two days on in a row. Our training staff, Joe Benge, he wasn't so concerned about getting him six, seven innings and then a day off. He'd rather [give him] short bursts and then get him out consistently. So that's the approach we're going to take for probably the first week and see how he responds. But it is a good thing to be able to pencil him in right out of the gate back to back."
Duffy had two at-bats in the game, going 1-for-2 with an RBI single, and he will likely have a day off on Sunday.
"I really liked the way that Duffy has continued to play," Cash said. "He looks like he didn't miss any time."
Here comes Hudson
Right-hander Daniel Hudson arrived at Rays camp on Saturday morning after he was acquired earlier in the week from the Pirates as part of the deal that sent Corey Dickerson to Pittsburgh.
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Hudson went 2-7 with a 4.38 ERA in 71 appearances last season for the Pirates. Cash expected Hudson to be throwing live batting practice on Saturday and said the eight-year MLB veteran is "good to go" despite sustaining an ankle ailment in camp with the Pirates.
"His workload was pushed back about a week," Cash said. "I think he rolled his ankle the first day in Pittsburgh, but he says he's totally fine."
Hudson told TBO.com that he was surprised to be traded but sees the move as "kind of a fresh start." He said he got a little "out of whack" last season, which caused some struggles.
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Hudson will wear No. 41.
Smith all over outfield
Cash plans to use Mallex Smith at all three outfield positions this spring as well as slotting him at different spots in the lineup.
"I don't know where he's going to hit in the lineup, but we're going to get him all throughout the lineup throughout spring, see where it fits in with other guys," Cash said. "We just got to find a way to get Mallex on base. When Mallex was on base for us last year, he created plenty of havoc, a dimension that was welcomed, with his speed. He knows that. It doesn't really change whether he's hitting first, ninth or sixth. But we'll continue to move him around."
Smith was successful in 16 of 21 stolen-base attempts last season.
Up next
The Rays travel back to Fort Myers, Fla., on Sunday, this time to play the Twins at 1:05 p.m. ET on MLB.TV and Gameday Audio. Left-hander Blake Snell is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay in his Grapefruit League season debut.