Report: Rays have 'serious interest' in Pearce

Steve Pearce could be headed back to Tampa Bay.

The free-agent utility man is reportedly attracting a "serious interest" from the Rays, with whom he spent the first four months of the 2016 season with, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

After trading Richie Shaffer to the Seattle Mariners on Friday, Tampa Bay is considering Pearce as a possible platoon partner at first base with the left-handed hitting Brad Miller.

In 60 games with the Rays in 2016, Pearce slashed .309/.388/.520 before being traded at the non-waiver trade deadline to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays won't be alone in their pursuit of Pearce, however, as the Toronto Blue Jays have also expressed interest in signing the 33-year-old.