James Loney to return to Rays

— -- First baseman James Loney has agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal to return to the Tampa Bay Rays, league sources told ESPN's Buster Olney.

Loney, 29, enjoyed a resurgence with the Rays in 2013, hitting .299 with 13 home runs and 75 RBIs in 158 games. He had the highest rate of line drives in the majors (30 percent) and his .351 batting average on the road was the best in the major leagues.

Loney spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers before he was traded to the Boston Red Sox as part of the blockbuster that sent Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to Los Angeles in August 2012.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers also reportedly were vying for Loney's services this offseason.