Rays pick up Shields, Rodney, Molina

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.