ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed left-hander John Rocker to a minor league contract Thursday.

	Rocker

Rocker, who pitched previously for Atlanta, Cleveland and Texas, worked out Wednesday at Tropicana Field. He was assigned to Triple-A Durham and will join the team's extended spring training program Saturday in St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella and general manager Chuck LaMar said Rocker, whose career has plummeted since a Sports Illustrated article before the 2000 season in which he made disparaging remarks about gays, minorities and others, showed he's healthy.

"We're not condoning any bad actions, whether it be John Rocker or anybody else," LaMar said Thursday. "It is the past. He's pitched for three teams since this incident."

Rocker is 13-22 with 88 saves in 278 major league appearances.

"Our concern is putting the best baseball team on the field," LaMar said. "In John Rocker or any other player's case, if he can help us win baseball games at the major league level, if he fits into our budget, if he's not getting in the way of young prospects, we have to consider signing him."

Rocker, 28, was released by Texas in October after going 2-3 with a 6.66 ERA and one save in 30 appearances with the Rangers last season. He also was 1-0 in six games at Triple-A Oklahoma and 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in three rehab outings with Double-A Tulsa.

Rocker spent time on the disabled list with left shoulder and neck pain in July. He reported recurring pain following his rehab assignment at Tulsa in August and did not pitch again.

Piniella said he didn't have a problem with taking in a player with Rocker's background.

"When I look at a player, I don't look in the past. I look at the present and the future, Piniella said. "I think he's learned from those things."