Rays notes: Longoria might take weekend off

3B Evan Longoria worked on his agility before Thursday's game, and he might return to the lineup tonight. Or, he might not.

Manager Joe Maddon said the goal is to make sure Longoria's strained left quadriceps is healthy by the time the Rays open the American League Division Series, even if that means Longoria sits for the last three games of the regular season.

"Wouldn't bother me in the least," Maddon said, "but I think you'll see him (during this series)."

Ben Zobrist started at third base Thursday for the first time this season and the third time in his career. Maddon said that was part of figuring out a contingency plan if Longoria is not ready for the postseason.

The Rays have used Sean Rodriguez, Dan Johnson, Willy Aybar and now Zobrist at third since Longoria was injured Sept.23.

According to third-base coach Tom Foley, who also coaches the infielders, Rodriguez has looked the best.

"The guy that Fo feels more comfortable with is Sean," Maddon said. "He likes Sean over there, and I like Sean anywhere."

Price to start Saturday?

Turns out David Price might just get another start before the postseason begins Wednesday.

Maddon tweaked his rotation this weekend, pushing Wade Davis back from Saturday to Sunday's regular-season finale.

The Rays originally listed Sunday's starter as TBA. That mystery pitcher is now slated to start Saturday, and Maddon said it could be Price, who is scheduled to start Wednesday during Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

"Yes, there is a chance that he can pitch, yes," Maddon said after Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Royals. "He could start. We're talking about all the different ways to set it up."

Price needs one more victory for a 20-win season, but it's not likely he would throw the required five innings necessary to qualify for the win.

Maddon did not want to go in detail about why he made the move. Was it to get Davis in line for an ALDS start? Maddon wouldn't say.

"There's a whole bunch of different subplots involved, honestly, and if I go there I'm going to start revealing other things that I don't want to reveal right now," he said. "So there's a couple of subplots that made us want to do it that way."

Maddon said he would reveal some of what he is thinking before tonight's game when he announces Saturday night's starter.

Soriano signs with Boras

Closer Rafael Soriano, who figures to do very well in free agency this offseason, will do even better now that he hired super-agent Scott Boras.

The American League's saves leader, with a career-high 44, was a Boras client in 2000 when he was a minor-leaguer in the Seattle system. But Soriano said they parted ways because Soriano didn't need a high-powered agent at that point of his career.

Now, as one of the top free agents in this class, he does.

"I think, who'd be the best for me, for my career? I picked him," Soriano said.

When asked if he has given much though to the payday that awaits him, Soriano said, "No, I don't. I know this game. Whatever's out there, he knows better."

Nothing to prove

James Shields makes his final start of the season tonight, and the right-hander said he has done enough to prove he should be in the postseason rotation.

"I don't think one game over the whole course of the season is going to be a factor whether or not they're going to make the decision I'm going to be in the starting rotation," he said. "But I feel like my stuff's there. I feel like I'm a competitor. I feel like I can definitely help this team win games in the playoffs, but whatever happens is going to happen."

Shields, 12-13 with a 5.04 ERA, is winless in his past five starts.

Maddon agreed that whatever decision is made on the playoff rotation concerning Shields won't be swayed by tonight's start. Maddon also expressed confidence in the pitcher who won two games in the 2008 postseason, including the Rays' lone win in the World Series.

"On any given night, this guy can beat a really good team," Maddon said. "With him it comes down to staying in his delivery and repeating his pitches."

Crawford power

Carl Crawford matched his career high with his 18th home run of the season Thursday. He also hit 18 in 2006.

The blast extended Crawford's career high for runs in a season to 107, fourth-most in the AL.

Odds and ends

Joaquin Benoit rejoined the team in time for Thursday's game after missing the two previous games to attend to the birth of his child in the Dominican Republic. ... Johnson stole his first career base in the second inning. ... Wednesday was the 38th time this season the Rays were held to five hits or fewer, trailing only the Dodgers (39) in that stat. ... Wednesday's loss dropped the Rays to 0-3 on "hangover days" - games that follow a clinching victory.