Dirk Hayhurst will spend the 2012 season in Italy. The 30-year-old right-hander struggled to find much interest on the free agent market this offseason after posting a 4.12 ERA and 43/21 K/BB ratio over 59 innings with Triple-A Durham in 2011. Rather than join another major league club's Triple-A affiliate, he's decided to travel to Europe and spend the summer in the relaxed environment of Italian professional baseball.

Rays released RHP Dirk Hayhurst. Hayhurst, 30, posted a 4.12 ERA and 43/21 K/BB ratio over 59 innings with Triple-A Durham this season. The talented author/right-hander will likely get a minor league deal with a spring training invite somewhere.