More moves coming ....

The Devil Rays were headed home after Thursday's game with more changes coming to their roster.

INF Ty Wigginton, who missed a month with a fractured left hand, is expected to be activated off the DL for Friday's game and resume his role as a super utility player, starting at first, second, third and in the outfield. Wigginton was rehabbing this week at Triple-A Durham.

LHP Casey Fossum may have to skip his scheduled Sunday start due to soreness in his left shoulder and other ailments. The Rays figure to know something by late Friday or Saturday; Fossum is expected to undergo an MRI and an exam by Dr. Koco Eaton. If he can't pitch, a replacement will be called upfrom Triple-A Durham.

LF Carl Crawford got somewhat of a rest Thursday as manager Joe Maddon used him as the DH and said he may do so more often during the final month of the season. Maddon also said he may use impressive rookie Delmon Young in centerfield at times to give Rocco Baldelli a rest.

Young set for debut ....

Delmon Young is set to make his major-league debut Tuesday night.

Young, the talented but occasionally trouble-making prospect,  is in the Devil Rays' starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the defending World Series champion White Sox, batting eighth and playing rightfield.

Manager Joe Maddon said Young, 20, will play just about every day and will have the chance to work his way up the lineup based on how well he does.

Young said he was excited but not nervous about playing in the majors for the first time. He also said he planned to talk with his new teammates and make it clear to them that he just wanted to fit in and be one of the guys.

Delmon on the way ...

CHICAGO - The Delmon Young era will start Tuesday night for the Devil Rays.

The Rays have decided to call up the talented but occasionally troublesome outfielder from Triple-A Durham and he is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Rays open a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox.

Young said he was surpised and excited by the opportunity.

“It’s a dream come true,’’ he said from Durham late Monday night. “When you start playing baseball as a little kid you want to play in the big leagues and it’s about to happen.’’

With a second doctor on Monday confirming Jonny Gomes needs season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, the Rays will turn to Young, the 20-year-old who is expected to be a huge part of their future. Young was likely to be called up next week after the end of the Durham season.

He was suspended 50 games after throwing his bat at an umpire during an April 26 game, and created more controversy in late July when he made comments to USA Today critical of the organization for not calling up their top prospects. He also ripped the organization at the end of last season when he was not called up.

But team officials have been pleased with his performance on and off the field more recently.

“We feel pretty confident that he is ready to come up and fit into our clubhouse,” Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said, “although obviously we will continue to monitor that, and also gauge his development on the field.”

Young was in the starting lineup for the Bulls Monday, then pulled out and told his promotion. He has played well since his returning from his suspension in June. Overall, he has a .316 average, eight homers and 59 RBIs.

Times photo; click to enlarge.

Witt on board

Kevin Witt not only joined the Devil Rays on Friday but he joined the starting lineup. Witt, called yp from Triple-A Durham following the late Thursday trade of Russell Branyan, started at first base.

Manager Joe Maddon said he plans to use Witt at first base and as a DH once Greg Norton's sore hamstring allows him to return to rightfield. Jonny Gomes, who will have his right shoulder examined on Monday, may play on Saturday. Maddon said.

Maddon said he was not ready name the pitching rotation for the series against the White Sox that starts Tuesday in Chicago, a hint that a change may be in the works.

New kid in town ....

By the time the Devil Rays get to Baltimore on Friday, they will have a couple of new players.

1B/DH Kevin Witt, who has had a spectacular season at Triple-A Durham, hitting a minor-league leading 36 homers and logging an International League high 99 RBIs, was called up after the Rays traded OF/3B Russell Branyan to San Diego. The Rays received minor-league pitcher Evan Meek and will get a player to be named later or cash.

The Rays have also called up RHP Jason Hammel, who will start on Friday against the Orioles.

Seo going on DL

The Devil Rays made the expected decision on Wednesday and placed RHP Jae Seo on the 15-day disabled list due to a groin strain. RHP Jason Hammel is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Durham and start in Seo's place on Friday in Baltimore. Hammell was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in two starts for the Rays early in the season and is 5-9 with a 4.23 ERA in 24 starts at Durham.

3B B.J. Upton, who was scratched from the lineup Tuesday due to some shoulder discomfort during batting practice, felt better on Wednesday and was in the lineup batting second. Manager Joe Maddon decided to keep Rocco Baldelli in the leadoff spot, where he has hit .383.

Struggling 2B Jorge Cantu returned to the lineup on Wednesday after two days off to clear his head. Cantu's average had dropped to .236 as he went through a 12-for-82 slump over the last month.

Upton out again

B.J. Upton's return to the Devil Rays lineup lasted one game. Upton sat out three weekend games against Cleveland due to a strained left shoulder, then went 2-for-5 on Monday. But he felt soreness in his left shoulder during batting practice on Tuesday and was scratched from the lineup. The Rays said his status is "day-to-day" but that manager Joe Maddon plans to be cautious in handling the 21-year-old third baseman. With Upton out, Russell Branyan was moved from rightfield to third base and Damon Hollins was added to the lineup in rightfield.

Upton is tentatively in the lineup for Wednesday's game, but will have to get through pre-game workouts with no problems.

The Rays will wait until Wednesday to decide whether RHP Jae Seo would pitch on Friday or if he will be placed on the disabled list due to a lingering left groin strain. If Seo can't pitch, RHP Jason Hammel will be called up from Triple-A Durham to take his place.

Another year for Don Zimmer?

Devil Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer said he would like to return next season, which would be his 59th in baseball, according to the Associated Press.

"The Devil Rays have been good to me," said Zimmer, who lives about 7 miles from Tropicana Field. "The job that I have, you couldn't ask for nothing better at the age of 75."

Upton leaves game ....

The Devil Rays can't seem to avoid injuries. The latest to be hurt was 3B B.J. Upton, who was forced to leave Thursday's game with what the team said was a left shoulder strain.

Upton swung and missed at an A.J. Burnett pitch in the third inning Thursday, then quickly grabbed his shoulder and was in obvious pain, though he appeared to be able to move his arm as he walked to the dugout. The Rays said his status was "day-to-day.' Upton was replaced in the lineup by Ben Zobrist, who took over at shortstop with Tomas Perez moving to third.

The Rays bench has already been shorthanded because Greg Norton is sidelined with a sore hamstring that has limited him to pinch-hit duty.

Carl Crawford became the fifth active player to have at least four 40-steal seasons, joining Kenny Lofton, Eric Young, Juan Pierre and Tony Womack.

Back on the field...

The Rays return to action Friday with all active players available, which hasn't necessarily been the case. But with a day game Wednesday and Thursday off, everyone seems rested and healthy. CF Rocco Baldelli is in the lineup and is expected to play again Saturday, then take Sunday off to rest his troublesome hamstrings.

LHP Scott Kazmir is set to make his first start since July 23. Manager Joe Maddon said Kazmir won't be on a hard pitch count, but will be watched closely for any signs of trouble relating to the shoulder inflammation that landed him on the DL.

Maddon is trying to take advantage of what hots bats the Rays have, slotting Greg Norton in the cleanup spot. Friday's lineup includes Baldelli, Carl Crawford, Jorge Cantu, Norton, Travis Lee, Dioner Navarro, Jonny Gomes, B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist.

Baldelli's back ...

CF Rocco Baldelli returned to the Devil Rays lineup for Tuesday's game at Seattle. Baldelli had missed the last five games due to soreness in his right hamstring, which was of conditional concern because he missed the first two months of the season due to problems with both hamstrings. Baldelli admitted he was not 100 percent but said he felt good enough to play and was in the lineup batting leadoff.

Slumping DH Jonny Gomes was not in the lineup as manager Joe Maddon wanted to stick with red-hot Greg Norton.

LHP Scott Kazmir said his extended bullpen session went well Tuesday and everything was fine for him to return to the rotation on Friday in Oakland. Manager Joe Maddon named Casey Fossum the starter for Saturday's game but seemed to be deciding between RHP Jae Seo, who pitched Tuesday, and RHP Tim Corcoran, who pitched Monday, for the Sunday start.

Baldelli still out; Dukes suspended 30 days ...

CF Rocco Baldelli was out of the Rays lineup again Friday due to soreness in his right hamstring and his return is uncertain. The Rays are hoping he can play Saturday, but Baldelli, who missed the first two months of the season with hamstring problems, said he did not know how long it would take to recover. Essentially he is going to have to see how it feels each day.

The Rays formalized their disciplinary action against troubled prospect Elijah Dukes, announcing that what had been an indefinite suspension would now be a 30-day suspension. Team officials said it was conceivable Dukes could return for the final week of the minor-league season.

LHP Scott Kazmir said Friday that his left shoulder felt great, but the Rays again chose a cautious path and pushed his return back from Tuesday until Aug. 11 in Oakland. Kazmir has been on the disabled list retroactive to July 24.

Baldelli scratched from lineup

Rays CF Rocco Baldelli was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game due to what the team said was "soreness'' in his right hamstring. Baldelli missed the first two months of the season with a left hamstring strain, and the Rays had been monitoring the wear and tear on his legs. He appeared to tweak his hamstring running to first base late in Wednesday's game.

The Rays were left with something of a patchwork outfield since manager Joe Maddon had already decided to give LF Carl Crawford a day of rest and did not have him in the lineup. Under the reworked lineup, Russell Branyan was in leftfield, Damon Hollins in center and Greg Norton in rightfield. Crawford, who leads the team with a .304 average and 123 hits,  said he felt fine and there was no reason for him not to play.

RHP Seth McClung joined the Rays from Triple-A Durham and will initially be used in the eighth inning but eventually will move into the closer's role. McClung did well in a relief role at Triple-A Durham after being demoted in June.

RHP Travis Harper was placed on the DL due to what the Rays said was an impingement in his right shoulder. He will do rehab exercises for two weeks and then be re-evaluated.

Baldelli's back ....

CF Rocco Baldelli was back in the Devil Rays lineup on Wednesday, shaking off the discomfort from the bruised right bicep that forced him from Tuesday's game. Baldelli was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning Tuesday and appeared to be be seriously hurt when he left the game, but it turned out to be only a bruise.

3B B.J. Upton and SS Ben Zobrist, who made their season debuts on Tuesday, also were in the lineup again for the Rays.

The team has not made any decisions yet regarding Triple-A Durham prospect Elijah Dukes, who was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday.

Manager Joe Maddon said ace LHP Scott Kazmir, who has been on the disabled list with shoulder discomfort, will definitely pitch when he is eligible to return on Aug. 8 at Seattle.

Baldelli leaves game ....

Devil Rays centerfielder Rocco Baldelli left Tuesday's game after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning. Baldelli appeared to be struck by the Jason Grilli pitch on the right elbow and looked to be in considerable pain, bracing his right arm with his left as he walked off the field, but the inital diagnosis was that he sustained a bruised right bicep.

Baldelli rejoined the Rays in June after missing all of the 2005 season and the first two months of this season due to injuries - surgery on his left knee and right elbow, and a lingering hamstring strain.

Baldelli had played extremely well since his return, hitting .281 with five homers and 29 RBIs.