Andy Sheets to play in Japan

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 13 (UPI) -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays agreed Friday to sell the rights to infielder Andy Sheets to the Hiroshima Carp of the Japanese Central League.

Terms were not announced.

Sheets, 31, batted .248 with four homers and 22 RBI in 41 games at second base, third and shortstop last season, his second with the Devil Rays. He began the campaign at Class AAA Durham before joining the parent club on July 20.

In seven seasons with Seattle, San Diego, Anaheim, Boston and Tampa Bay, Sheets is a career .216 hitter with 19 homers and 113 RBI in 356 games.

On Tuesday, Devil Rays first baseman Steve Cox had his services purchased by Yokohoma of the Japanese Central League.