The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are taking another major step toward keep a promising core of young talent together. Center fielder Rocco Baldelli is expected to sign a long-term contract Thursday that could be worth $33 million over six years. The team scheduled an afternoon news conference at Tropicana Field to make the announcement. Baldelli hit .289 with 11 homers and 78 RBIs as a rookie in 2003 and batted .280 with 16 homers and 74 RBIs the following year. He missed last season because of knee and elbow injuries.