Rays sign Luke Scott to one-year contract

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter Luke Scott to a one-year contract with a club option for the 2013 season.

Scott, 33, owns a career .264 batting average, 112 home runs, 341 RBI, .349 on-base percentage and .494 slugging percentage over seven seasons with the Houston Astros (2005-07) and Baltimore Orioles (2008-11). The left-handed hitter has played primarily left field and right field and has spent significant time at designated hitter and first base.

"Luke has established himself as one of the better power hitters in baseball, with consistent success in a variety of roles against both right- and left-handed pitchers," said Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. "He's shown he can perform in the American League East and we expect him to be healthy and productive again in 2012."

Scott's 2011 season was cut short due to a torn right labrum, which was surgically repaired on July 26 by Dr. James Andrews. Prior to that, he hit .220 (46-for-209) with nine home runs and 22 RBI in 64 games for Baltimore.

Over his three previous seasons (2008-10), Scott batted .269 with a combined 84 doubles and 75 home runs. Only three American Leaguers-and no other left-handed hitters-matched those numbers over that span: Evan Longoria, Miguel Cabrera and Mark Teixeira. His best season came in his most recent full season, 2010, when he batted .284 (127-for-447) and led the Orioles with 27 home runs, fifth most among AL lefties. He added 29 doubles, 72 RBI and a .535 SLG.

Against right-handed pitching, Scott is a career .271 hitter with 82 home runs, .357 OBP and .501 SLG.

The De Leon Springs, Fla., resident graduated from DeLand (Fla.) High School and Oklahoma State University. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the 2001 June Draft.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays will announce a corresponding roster move later.