ST. PETERSBURG - RHP Jay Witasick was looking for work in more ways than one, and the Devil Rays were happy to give it to him.

The 34-year-old reliever was frustrated by the long stretches he went without pitching out of Oakland's bullpen this season. He hadn't pitched at all in nearly two weeks once the A's decided he no longer fit in their plans and designated him for assignment, eventually releasing him last week.

The Rays signed Witasick for the remainder of the season Tuesday and slotted him in with fellow veterans Gary Glover and Al Reyes at the back end of their bullpen. He probably will work mostly in the seventh inning when the Rays are trying to protect a lead, with Glover continuing to entrench himself in the eighth and Reyes closing out games.

However it all plays out, it's virtually guaranteed Witasick will have more chances to work than he did in Oakland, where he made 16 appearances this year.

"For the most part, coming here gives me the opportunity to be able to do some pitching," said Witasick. "Being with a team like Oakland, a little more established team when it comes to the bullpen and starting rotation, the innings sometimes are few and far between. Guys are out there going eight innings a night, and that's nothing to complain about, but on the flip side, you can spend seven or eight days down in the 'pen and not have any activity."

That shouldn't be a problem here. The Rays want Witasick to help stabilize a bullpen that has been erratic, to say the least, all season. With Witasick in the fold and the newly recalled Jason Hammel working in long relief for the time being, the Rays will trot out yet another variation for a while and see how it works.
Jay Witasick is alive? Oh my...