Rays pick up Shields, Rodney, Molina

• Tweet

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Pitchers James Shields and Fernando Rodney and catcher Jose Molina are returning to Tampa Bay after the Rays picked up 2013 options on each Wednesday.

Shields -- the Rays' solid No. 2 starter -- went 15-10 with a 3.52 ERA in 33 starts last season and is already Tampa Bay's all-time leader in wins (87), starts (217), innings pitched (1,454 2/3) and strikeouts (1,250).

Rodney cemented his status as one of the game's top closers in 2012 en route to winning the American League Comeback Player of the Year. He boasted a club-record 48 saves with a microscopic 0.60 ERA over 76 games.

Molina, meanwhile, hit a career-high eight homers with 32 RBI in 102 games behind the plate for the Rays.

Tampa Bay, however, declined to exercise its option on first baseman-outfielder Luke Scott, who batted .229 with 14 home runs and 55 RBI over 96 games mainly as a designated hitter.