Some details of INF Hank Blalock's minor-league contract with the Rays are a bit complicated, even Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman acknowledged, but the bottom line is that if the Rays don't have a place for him, they won't keep him from playing in the big leagues if he has another opportunity.

"It's convoluted,'' Friedman said. "What I will say is that at the end of spring if there’s not a 25-man spot for him and there is somewhere else we’re not going to stand in his way.''

That's because Blalock has an opt-out clause, which starting April 1, allows him to ask for his release and gives the Rays a set period of time to either put him on the 25-man roster or let him go.

If Blalock makes the Rays roster, he'd earn $925,000, with the chance for another $350,000 in incentives based on plate appearances.