ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 2 (UPI) -- Hours before their team's third game of the season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays announced the signing of free agent second baseman Damion Easley and righthander Alan Levine in two of five moves made by the club Wednesday.
Easley, a former All-Star, likely will take over the righthanded part of a second base platoon with lefthanded-hitting Marlon Anderson, with Brent Abernathy being optioned to Class AAA Durham of the International League.
Released on Friday by Detroit, Easley is a lifetime .254 hitter with 119 home runs, 506 RBI and 105 stolen bases. The 33-year-old was an All-Star with the Tigers in 1998, when he hit .271 while setting career highs with 27 homers and 100 RBI.
Abernathy, a 25-year-old in his third major league season, was none for seven with a run scored and an error before being demoted.
Levine was signed to a minor league deal by Tampa Bay after failing to make St. Louis' Opening Day club. The middle reliever spent the previous four years with Anaheim, winning a World Series ring last season.
In 288 major league appearances, Levine is 18-23 with nine saves and a 3.91 ERA.
The Devil Rays cleared a spot on the 40-man roster for Levine by designating speedy but light-hitting outfielder Jason Tyner for assignment.
Tampa Bay also sent outfielder George Lombard outright to Durham and lefthander Hans Smith to Class AA Orlando and announced that both cleared waivers.
In a separate move, the Devil Rays lost Rule 5 infielder Hector Luna as Cleveland accepted his tendered contract and sent him outright to Class AA Buffalo of the International League.
The Devil Rays, who last season matched the Tigers for the worst record in the majors (55-106), split their first two games of 2003 under Piniella in his first year as manager.
