ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Tampa Bay Rays would like to bolster their depth at designated hitter and in the outfield and have had discussions with free agent Hideki Matsui.

If signed, Matsui likely would receive a minor league contract and be sent to extended spring training before reporting to Triple-A Durham.

The 37-year-old has played nine major league seasons for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics.

Matsui appeared in 141 games for the A’s in 2011, batting .251 with 12 homers and 72 RBIs. He’s a .285 career hitter with 173 homers and 753 RBIs.

Luke Scott is Tampa Bay’s primary left-handed designated hitter. Matsui potentially could provide manager Joe Maddon with another option against right-handed pitching.

After working on offspeed pitches in a simulated game, Clay Buchholz focused on them some more Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Relying on his curveball and changeup, Buchholz allowed one run and four hits in five innings as the Boston Red Sox won 8-4.

His lone run allowed came on Evan Longoria’s second-inning homer.

“You’ve got a bunch of big-name guys in this lineup, and they’ve been really good for the last three or four years,” Buchholz said. “So, it’s definitely tough to go out there and try to work on things and make good pitches consistently to these guys.”

Jarrod Saltalamacchia caught Buchholz and downplayed the bursitis on his left hip that sidelined him for a few days.

“It’s honestly something that just flared up a little bit,” Saltalamacchia said. “If this was during the season I’d be playing, but with spring training you don’t want to take a chance.”

Buchholz struck out four and walked none. New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said thought his pitcher and catcher worked well together.

“You know, at first they didn’t. They weren’t on the same page because they didn’t realize that Clay just wanted to throw more changeups today and less curveballs in the first inning,” Valentine said. “He worked real good, and other than the back-to-back changeups to Longoria and the fastball that everybody knew was coming, I thought he was perfect. Real good outing.”

Rays left-hander Matt Moore, back from a mild abdominal strain, gave up four runs, two hits and three walks in 2 1-3 innings, leaving after he walked the bases loaded in the third.

“For me right now, I’m trying to feel a lot of stuff and just to get a clean arm stroke with each pitch and I wasn’t too clean today with especially my changeup,” Moore said. “The breaking ball was there, so I was pretty happy about that. That pitch felt good. The fastball felt good, just wasn’t locating too good, especially early. “

Moore allowed solo homers to Cody Ross and Josh Kroeger, and threw just 26 of 52 pitches for strikes.

“He’s got electric stuff,” Ross said. “His fastball has a lot of life to it, some movement. He’s got a good breaking ball. He was struggling a little bit with his changeup, and he’ll probably tell you that. He’s got a ton of upside. To be as young as he is, to be competing like he is, is pretty neat to see.”

Ross, who has a history of struggling in spring training, homered for the second straight day and is hitting .455. With Carl Crawford recovering from a wrist injury, Ross likely will get playing time at the start of the season.

“It’s nice to feel good and give me confidence going into the season and it’s a grind when you feel terrible in spring training and then you don’t have to play catch up at the beginning of the season,” Ross said.

Longoria’s homer was his first hit of spring training. He was 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

“Clay threw the ball well,” Longoria said. “I just spot up a couple of good pitches, changeups and curveballs, and eventually got him to throw a fastball that I can handle. It’s about adjustments and really just getting it back to underneath our belts and getting comfortable so I thought today overall was pretty good for everybody.”

Rays leadoff man Desmond Jennings upped his spring average to .381 with two hits.

“I thought in general we had good at-bats today,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “The guys, the varsities, really, I thought their at-bats were much better.”

NOTES: Rays CF B.J. Upton (sore back) could play Tuesday when the Rays travel to Jupiter to play the Miami Marlins but more than likely will play in a minor league game. … Rays LHP David Price threw in a minor league game on the back fields of Charlotte Sports Park. He gave up three runs, six hits and one walk in 4 1-3 innings with one strikeout. … Rays SS Tim Beckham was reassigned to minor league camp. Rays RHP Dane De La Rosa, RHP Matt Bush, C Steven Vogt and OF Brandon Guyer were optioned to the minors.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) – After working on offspeed pitches in a simulated game, Clay Buchholz focused on them some more Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Relying on his curveball and changeup, Buchholz allowed one run and four hits in five innings as the Boston Red Sox won 8-4.

His lone run allowed came on Evan Longoria‘s second-inning homer.

”You’ve got a bunch of big-name guys in this lineup, and they’ve been really good for the last three or four years,” Buchholz said. ”So, it’s definitely tough to go out there and try to work on things and make good pitches consistently to these guys.”

Jarrod Saltalamacchia caught Buchholz and downplayed the bursitis on his left hip that sidelined him for a few days.

”It’s honestly something that just flared up a little bit,” Saltalamacchia said. ”If this was during the season I’d be playing, but with spring training you don’t want to take a chance.”

Buchholz struck out four and walked none. New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said thought his pitcher and catcher worked well together.

”You know, at first they didn’t. They weren’t on the same page because they didn’t realize that Clay just wanted to throw more changeups today and less curveballs in the first inning,” Valentine said. ”He worked real good, and other than the back-to-back changeups to Longoria and the fastball that everybody knew was coming, I thought he was perfect. Real good outing.”

Rays left-hander Matt Moore, back from a mild abdominal strain, gave up four runs, two hits and three walks in 2 1-3 innings, leaving after he walked the bases loaded in the third.

”For me right now, I’m trying to feel a lot of stuff and just to get a clean arm stroke with each pitch and I wasn’t too clean today with especially my changeup,” Moore said. ”The breaking ball was there, so I was pretty happy about that. That pitch felt good. The fastball felt good, just wasn’t locating too good, especially early. ”

Moore allowed solo homers to Cody Ross and Josh Kroeger, and threw just 26 of 52 pitches for strikes.

”He’s got electric stuff,” Ross said. ”His fastball has a lot of life to it, some movement. He’s got a good breaking ball. He was struggling a little bit with his changeup, and he’ll probably tell you that. He’s got a ton of upside. To be as young as he is, to be competing like he is, is pretty neat to see.”

Ross, who has a history of struggling in spring training, homered for the second straight day and is hitting .455. With Carl Crawford recovering from a wrist injury, Ross likely will get playing time at the start of the season.

”It’s nice to feel good and give me confidence going into the season and it’s a grind when you feel terrible in spring training and then you don’t have to play catch up at the beginning of the season,” Ross said.

Longoria’s homer was his first hit of spring training. He was 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

”Clay threw the ball well,” Longoria said. ”I just spot up a couple of good pitches, changeups and curveballs, and eventually got him to throw a fastball that I can handle. It’s about adjustments and really just getting it back to underneath our belts and getting comfortable so I thought today overall was pretty good for everybody.”

Rays leadoff man Desmond Jennings upped his spring average to .381 with two hits.

”I thought in general we had good at-bats today,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. ”The guys, the varsities, really, I thought their at-bats were much better.”

NOTES: Rays CF B.J. Upton (sore back) could play Tuesday when the Rays travel to Jupiter to play the Miami Marlins but more than likely will play in a minor league game. … Rays LHP David Price threw in a minor league game on the back fields of Charlotte Sports Park. He gave up three runs, six hits and one walk in 4 1-3 innings with one strikeout. … Rays SS Tim Beckham was reassigned to minor league camp. Rays RHP Dane De La Rosa, RHP Matt Bush, C Steven Vogt and OF Brandon Guyer were optioned to the minors.

Red Sox’ Alex Hassan, right, reaches first as Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena tries to get a glove on the ball during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game in Port Charlotte, Fla., Sunday, March 18, 2012. (Charles Krupa/AP)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Clay Buchholz allowed one run and four hits in five innings, Cody Ross homered for the second straight afternoon and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 Sunday.

Buchholz, who struck out four and walked none, allowed his only run on Evan Longoria’s first-inning homer – his first hit of spring training. Longoria was 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

Rays left-hander Matt Moore, back from a mild abdominal strain, gave up four runs, two hits and three walks in 2 1-3 innings, leaving after he walked the bases loaded in the third. He allowed solo homers to Ross and Josh Kroeger, and threw just 26 of 52 pitches for strikes.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—James Shields sailed through his first spring training
start.

The Tampa Bay right-hander pitched two perfect innings, and the Rays beat
the New York Yankees 4-0 on Wednesday.

“I felt really good,” Shields said. “Felt kind of weird the first couple
pitches, but that’s just the normal first game of spring training. I was
commanding my pitches for the most part.”

Shields struck out Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano. The 30-year old is coming
off an All-Star season in which he went 16-12 with 11 complete games and four
shutouts.

“Nobody has to, really, pressure James to do anything,” Rays manager Joe
Maddon said. “He’s such a great worker. He’s such a great self starter and
motivator.”

Hiroki Kuroda allowed three runs and three hits over two innings during his
Yankees’ spring training debut. New York signed the former Los Angeles Dodgers’
pitcher to a $10 million, one-year contract.

“The most important thing that I wanted to accomplish was the feeling for
the real game, and I think I was able to do that, so I’m happy,” Kuroda said
through a translator. “I think there was something that I gained from this
outing. I made sure that I had all my pitches, and I was able to throw a lot of
good pitches.”

Kuroda and opening day starter CC Sabathia are the only pitchers that
Yankees manager Joe Girardi has said will be part of his rotation.

“I thought he threw some really good splits,” Girardi said. “I thought he
threw some good fastballs. I liked what I saw from him. I know he gave up a
couple runs, but that doesn’t bother me. I was pleased with where he’s at
physically.”

The Rays are playing without Evan Longoria, who has a bruised right hand.
The All-Star third baseman, hit by a pitch during an intrasquad game on March 1,
has started hitting off a tee.

“It’s fine … he’s just a sore,” Maddon said. “Next couple days it
should be pretty much back to normal.”

Stephen Vogt, who had 105 RBIs at Double and Triple-A last season, drove in
a pair of runs with a triple off Kuroda during a three-run second. He finished 3
for 3.

New York had just four hits off six pitchers.

“We love our pitching,” Maddon said. “I like our team a lot, I really
do.”

Jeter was hitless in two at-bats and was charged with an error after the
ball popped out of his glove while fielding Ben Zobrist’s fifth-inning grounder.

New York added a Hall of Famer before the game when spring training
instructor Yogi Berra arrived. He joins an instructors’ group of former Yankees’
stars that includes Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson and Lou Piniella.

“It felt like camp started today—Yogi’s here,” Girardi said. “It was
great to see him. It just kind of puts a smile on everyone’s face. Things pick
up around here a little bit.”

Notes: New York closer Mariano Rivera, who has strongly hinted he will
retire after this season, is to throw batting practice for the second time on
Thursday and will likely pitch Sunday. … Cano is expected to get retired C
Jorge Posada’s locker at Yankee Stadium, which is opposite to Jeter’s at the
back of the clubhouse, near the entrance to the showers. … The Yankees agreed
to one-year contracts with all their previous unsigned players ($480,000 minimum
in majors unless noted): 2B David Adams, OF Zoilo Almonte, RHP Dellin Betances
($481,000), LHP Cesar Cabral, C Francisco Cervelli ($513,700), 2B Corban Joseph,
RHP George Kontos ($481,350), 3B Brandon Laird ($482,500), OF Justin Maxwell, OF
Melky Mesa, RHP Brad Meyers, RHP D.J. Mitchell, RHP Ivan Nova ($527,200), SS
Eduardo Nunez ($523,800), SS Ramiro Pena ($504,600), RHP David Phelps, RHP
Michael Pineda ($528,475), C Austin Romine ($482,000) and RHP Cory Wade
($508,925).

More In Spring Training

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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Detectives have arrested a southwest Florida man they say burglarized a home shared by three Tampa Bay Rays players during spring training in March.

Authorities in Port Charlotte charged 22-year-old Steven Charles Vaughn with breaking into a rented house shared by Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac.

Vaughn allegedly took $60,000 worth of items, including electronics, watches, jewelry and an AK-47-type rifle. Deputies say the players were participating in a spring training game at the time.

Vaughn was arrested Wednesday in the county jail, where he was being held on unrelated charges. He’s charged with armed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft and dealing in stolen property.

It was not clear if he had an attorney.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brandon Guyer, who homered in his first major league at-bat Friday night, headed back to the minor leagues Sunday.

The Rays recalled right-hander Rob Delaney from Triple-A Durham and optioned Guyer to the same minor league club.

Recalled from Durham on Friday afternoon, Guyer made history that night when he became the first Tampa Bay player to homer on his first at-bat in his major league debut. Guyer drove a 3-1 pitch from Zach Britton into the left-field seats with a runner on in the second inning.

He went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts before leaving for a pinch hitter. Guyer did not play Saturday, but he packed his bags Sunday with enough memories to last a lifetime.

“It was an awesome experience,” Guyer said.

Obtained in the offseason trade that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs, Guyer couldn’t be happier with Tampa Bay.

“I really like this organization,” he said. “If I had stayed in Chicago it’s doubtful I’d have had a chance to come up yet. I know what to do in Durham and I hope to be back this year.”

Guyer wasn’t up for long, but his presence was appreciated by Rays manager Joe Maddon.

“He’s going to be back here,” Maddon said. “I liked him the moment I met him in spring training. He looks you in the eye.”

Maddon said Guyer took the demotion with class.

“First of all, I said, ‘Great job and thank you for what you did for us here, but we’re a little bit short in the bullpen and we have to make a move today. I want you to know you made a great impression on all of us, like you did in spring training,”‘ Maddon said.

Delaney was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 appearances with Durham. Claimed off waivers from Minnesota in January, he has one game of big league experience.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BALTIMORE – Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brandon Guyer, who homered in his first major league at-bat Friday night, headed back to the minor leagues Sunday.

The Rays recalled right-hander Rob Delaney from Triple-A Durham and optioned Guyer to the same minor league club.

Recalled from Durham on Friday afternoon, Guyer made history that night when he became the first Tampa Bay player to homer on his first at-bat in his major league debut. Guyer drove a 3-1 pitch from Zach Britton into the left-field seats with a runner on in the second inning.

He went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts before leaving for a pinch hitter. Guyer did not play Saturday, but he packed his bags Sunday with enough memories to last a lifetime.

“It was an awesome experience,” Guyer said.

Obtained in the offseason trade that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs, Guyer couldn’t be happier with Tampa Bay.

“I really like this organization,” he said. “If I had stayed in Chicago it’s doubtful I’d have had a chance to come up yet. I know what to do in Durham and I hope to be back this year.”

Guyer wasn’t up for long, but his presence was appreciated by Rays manager Joe Maddon.

“He’s going to be back here,” Maddon said. “I liked him the moment I met him in spring training. He looks you in the eye.”

Maddon said Guyer took the demotion with class.

“First of all, I said, ‘Great job and thank you for what you did for us here, but we’re a little bit short in the bullpen and we have to make a move today. I want you to know you made a great impression on all of us, like you did in spring training,’” Maddon said.

Delaney was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 appearances with Durham. Claimed off waivers from Minnesota in January, he has one game of big league experience.

BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brandon Guyer, who homered in his first major league at-bat Friday night, headed back to the minor leagues Sunday.

The Rays recalled right-hander Rob Delaney from Triple-A Durham and optioned Guyer to the same minor league club.

Recalled from Durham on Friday afternoon, Guyer made history that night when he became the first Tampa Bay player to homer on his first at-bat in his major league debut. Guyer drove a 3-1 pitch from Zach Britton into the left-field seats with a runner on in the second inning.

He went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts before leaving for a pinch hitter. Guyer did not play Saturday, but he packed his bags Sunday with enough memories to last a lifetime.

“It was an awesome experience,” Guyer said.

Obtained in the offseason trade that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs, Guyer couldn’t be happier with Tampa Bay.

“I really like this organization,” he said. “If I had stayed in Chicago it’s doubtful I’d have had a chance to come up yet. I know what to do in Durham and I hope to be back this year.”

Guyer wasn’t up for long, but his presence was appreciated by Rays manager Joe Maddon.

“He’s going to be back here,” Maddon said. “I liked him the moment I met him in spring training. He looks you in the eye.”

Maddon said Guyer took the demotion with class.

“First of all, I said, ‘Great job and thank you for what you did for us here, but we’re a little bit short in the bullpen and we have to make a move today. I want you to know you made a great impression on all of us, like you did in spring training,” Maddon said.

Delaney was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 appearances with Durham. Claimed off waivers from Minnesota in January, he has one game of big league experience.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla.- Sheriff’s deputies in Charlotte County are investigating a burglary at a home that was rented by three Tampa Rays players.

The call came in at about 3 p.m. on Sunday when Tampa Rays pitcher David Price returned to a rental home that he had been sharing with Evan Longoria and Reid Brignac.

The home had been ransacked and the thieves took about $56,000 worth of cash, jewelry and electronics. An A.K. 47 assault rifle was also listed as stolen, but the report was not specific about who owned the gun.

The Sheriff’s Office says that the gun was perfectly legal for the players to have in the County.

Detectives say that the thieves most likely gained entrance to the home because because the players forgot to lock up.

“They did accidentally leave a window open in the house which is the way the burglars got in,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bob Carpenter.

The home did not have an alarm system that may have prevented such a theft. The Sheriff’s Office says that the thieves most likely knew who their victims were and carefully planed the heist.

“We feel somebody really knew their schedule, when they would be out of there” Carpenter said.

The Sheriff’s Office says that this kind of crime should serve as a warning to other players who come to town for spring training that they need to be careful about locking up their stuff.

Detectives are investigating the crime and tell WINK News that they already have several leads.

Slideshow

Tampa Bay Rays Evan Longoria looks at the fans prior to game three of the American League Divisional Series October 9, 2010 at the Ranger’s Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. The Rays won 6-3 but trail 2-1 in the best of five series. UPI/Ian Halperin 

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla., March 28 (UPI) — Property worth tens of thousands of dollars was stolen from three Tampa Bay Rays as they played a spring training game, they said.

Burglars struck a Port Charlotte, Fla., house rented by Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac Saturday, the players told the St. Petersburg Times. Electronics, jewelry and other items were stolen at midday while they were at the game at the nearby Charlotte Sports Park.

Charlotte County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Krzysiak confirmed the crime but gave no details.

“Thank God nobody was there,” Brignac said Sunday. “If we were there, it would have been a different story.”

Longoria was glad “that everybody was okay and safe and nobody had to fight their way out of a home-invasion robbery.”

Price was the first to return and found plants knocked over. He then saw that every drawer was open and called his teammates.

Among the items taken were a 60-inch flat screen TV, three iPads, two Xbox game systems, headphones, Price’s laptop and several of his expensive watches. Price estimated his loss alone as exceeding $50,000.

The players said the sheriff’s office told them of several promising leads in the case.

Updated Mar 27, 2011 2:54 PM ET

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP )

The Houston Astros have acquired infielder Joe Inglett from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday for a player to be named or cash.

The Astros also returned winter draft pick Lance Pendleton, a reliever, back to the New York Yankees.

The 33-year-old Inglett can play several infield positions. The Astros will use the final few days of spring training to look at him as a potential left-handed bat off the bench.

Inglett is a career .286 hitter in 781 at-bats with Cleveland, Toronto and Milwaukee. He led all major leaguers with 20 pinch hits last season.

Pendleton appeared in seven games for the Astros this spring, going 1-0 with a 5.87 ERA. As a Rule 5 pick, the Astros were required to offer Pendleton back to the Yankees if they weren’t going to put him on their big league roster.

Updated Mar 27, 2011 2:54 PM ET

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP )

The Houston Astros have acquired infielder Joe Inglett from the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday for a player to be named or cash.

The Astros also returned winter draft pick Lance Pendleton, a reliever, back to the New York Yankees.

The 33-year-old Inglett can play several infield positions. The Astros will use the final few days of spring training to look at him as a potential left-handed bat off the bench.

Inglett is a career .286 hitter in 781 at-bats with Cleveland, Toronto and Milwaukee. He led all major leaguers with 20 pinch hits last season.

Pendleton appeared in seven games for the Astros this spring, going 1-0 with a 5.87 ERA. As a Rule 5 pick, the Astros were required to offer Pendleton back to the Yankees if they weren’t going to put him on their big league roster.