Latest Rays' addition Blalock ready for 'next chapter'

Newly signed free agent Hank Blalock was at the Tampa Bay Rays' complex bright and early this morning after passing his physical and signing a minor-league contract with the club Monday night.

On why he signed with the Rays: "Well, I didn't have any other choice. So that's why I'm here."

He said he's healthy and will be ready to play by the end of the week.

Blalock said he's primarily a first baseman-designated hitter but can play third in a pinch.

He's 29 and sees this move to the Rays as "the next chapter in my career."

The team wouldn't comment on Blalock's contract specifics, but SI.com reported the deal was worth $925,000 with another $400,000 in incentives.

Blalock was a two-time All-Star with the Texas Rangers, but his career was slowed by injuries during the 2007 and 2008 seasons that limited him to 123 games over the two seasons. Blalock hit 25 home runs in 495 at-bats over 123 games last season, his highest totals for each catagory since the 2006 season.

A good chunk of the Rays' regulars are headed to Sarasota to play the Orioles at 1:05 p.m. today at Ed Smith Stadium.

The Rays have won five straight after losing the Grapefruit League opener against the Orioles in Sarasota.

Of the five wins, four have come in their final at-bat, including all three at Charlotte Sports Park.

"The thing I like is we're playing well late," manager Joe Maddon said after Monday's 4-3, 10-inning win against the visiting Pirates. "That's one of our concepts that we're focused on. We've scored a lot of runs late, we've held leads, we've not given up leads - although we did today. But we came back. In my mind, our guys have it in the back of their minds as the game is in progress to play well late in the game, and that's what I'm seeing."

Here are the lineups for today:

RAYS

Sean Rodriguez SS

Carl Crawford LF

Evan Longoria 3B

Carlos Pena 1B

B.J. Upton DH

Matt Joyce RF

Dioner Navarro C

Reid Brignac 2B

Fernando Perez CF

Jeff Niemann P