Rasmus signs with O’s after baseball hiatus

Outfielder Colby Rasmus has decided to return to baseball after walking away last summer. The ex-Toronto Blue Jay has signed a minor-league contract with Baltimore. The 31-year-old Rasmus was with Tampa Bay in mid-July when the Rays said he was going to “step away from baseball.” Neither the team nor Rasmus of- fered an explanation, though he had been slowed by hip trouble. Rasmus was hitting .281 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs in 37 games for the Rays when he left. He has hit 165 home runs and batted .242 in nine seasons with St. Louis, Toronto, Houston and Tampa Bay.