ST. PETERSBURG -- Daniel Robertson has a cast on his left hand, but he hasn't given up on the idea of playing before the end of the season.
Robertson has been on the disabled list (left-thumb surgery) since Aug. 4.
When asked if he'd like to be back on the field before the end of the season, Robertson answered: "That's my plan."
"I think that [the Rays are] on board as well," Robertson said. "With that being said, I don't think there's going to be any rushing in the process. The goal is to still, hopefully, get some more at-bats this year, whether that's with a week left in the season or not. That's just the mentality. I'm going to come in here and do everything I can to get to that point."
Tampa Bay wanted Robertson to get offseason at-bats after the 2017 season. In deference to that desire, he requested that he be allowed to work on his body during the offseason, and the Rays were on board. He reported to camp 15-20 pounds lighter, and seemed to be a lot more comfortable playing at around 200 pounds this season.
While Robertson said he did not know if the Rays would want him to get offseason at-bats, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash was asked if the team would want Robertson to do so.
"No, I do not," Cash said. "I think he needs to go get as close to the routine he had last offseason. Robby really established himself as a Major League player and a guy we're going to count on for years to come with his versatility and how solid his at-bats were. Unfortunately, his season got cut short, [and] he's got a lengthy rehab process. Hopefully that [rehab] will be about done by the time the season runs down."
Robertson is hitting .262 with nine home runs and 34 at-bats this season while playing each of the infield positions, left field and DH.
WORTH NOTING
• Cash was asked if Ryan Yarbrough or Yonny Chirinos would be put back into the starting rotation.
"Good question," Cash said. "I don't think any time this season. If we need a starter we'll start them, but I don't think we envision putting them in a rotation where they're starting.
"We like what we've learned from this. I think those guys have responded. Then we'll have some decisions in the offseason, then come Spring Training how we want to handle each person individually, and what works best for them and for us."
• Entering Monday's night's action against the Royals, the Rays only had 10 players on their active roster who were on the team's roster when they last played the Royals in Kansas City on May 16 at Kauffman Stadium.
• Catcher Jesus Sucre, who has soreness in his right wrist, fought through the pain to get behind the plate on Sunday, giving Michael Perez a much-needed break. Cash said they will "probably give [Sucre] another day or two before we get him back in the mix of things."