As expected -- and reported in Tuesday's Times -- the MLB Network announced today that they have hired longtime Rays broadcaster Joe Magrane.

Here's the official release from MLB Network:

Veteran Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster and former Major League pitcher Joe Magrane has been added to MLB Network’s roster of on-air talent, joining Matt Vasgersian, Al Leiter, Harold Reynolds, Trenni Kusnierek and Hazel Mae. Magrane will join the cast of MLB Tonight, the live, nightly studio show that will be the signature program of the new network, and Hot Stove, a live, nightly off-season studio show. All of the on-air personalities will appear on both shows, as well as other programming across MLB Network, which will launch on Jan. 1, 2009, in approximately 50-million homes as the largest network debut in cable history.

“Bringing Joe into the fold continues our trend of hiring high caliber, versatile talent who we know can be successful in a wide variety of roles,” said Tony Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network. “Joe’s experience as a broadcaster and a player speaks for itself, and his presence will clearly enrich our programming.”

Magrane has been part of the Rays broadcast team as color analyst since the team’s inception in 1998. He also worked on FOX baseball telecasts, and was a color analyst for NBC’s baseball coverage of the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games. In 2002, he served as a postgame reporter for the NLCS on FOX. An All-America selection at the University of Arizona in 1985, Magrane enjoyed a 10-year Major League career, compiling a 56-67 record with the St. Louis Cardinals (1987-93), California Angels (1993-95), and Chicago White Sox (1996). He finished third in the 1987 NL Rookie of the Year voting, helping lead the Cardinals to the World Series. He won the NL ERA title in 1988 and the following year won 18 games, placing third in the NL Cy Young voting.

MLB Tonight will air live beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern until the final MLB game of the night ends between Monday and Saturday, and will be based out of MLB Network’s headquarters in Secaucus, N.J. The program will feature live look-ins of games in progress, updates, highlights, reporting and analysis. Hot Stove will air during the off-season at 7 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday and feature news, reports, and analysis of the moves clubs are making and planning in preparation for the upcoming season.

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com