The Devil Rays sent 2005 team MVP Jorge Cantu to Triple-A on Saturday. Cantu was optimistic he would return to his 2005 form after an injury shortened 2006 season, but lost his starting 2B job to B.J. Upton.

Cantu was obviously unhappy with the move. He said he asked the Rays ro trade him and said he didn't know if he would report to Triple-A Durham. "I'm not a minor-league player," he said.

Also, the Rays optioned catcher Shawn Riggans to Triple-A, an indication that starter Dioner Navarro and backup Josh Paul will be healthy enough to start the season.

And they reassigned to minor-league camp OF Dustan Mohr, C Raul Casanova and INF Jorge Velandia.

What they Rays had not decided as of early Saturday morning was how to replace Greg Norton, who will be sidelined with a right knee injury. Bringing back 1B Carlos Pena, who was sent down Friday, is a possbility.

The starting lineup for Saturday's exhibition may be what the Rays use for Monday's opener:
Carl Crawford, lf
Ben Zobrist, ss
Rocco Baldelli, dh
Ty Wigginton, 1b
Delmon Young, rf
Akinori Iwamura, 3b
Dioner Navarro, c
Elijah Dukes, cf
B.J. Upton, 2b