TAMPA — Evan Longoria signed his ceremonial one-day contract, pulled on the size 44 Rays jersey with No. 3 on the back — the same as when he played — noted it still fit and said, “maybe I will play tonight.”

He was joking, of course, but he looked quite capable and certainly comfortable back in the familiar jersey as he official retired Saturday — as a Ray.

“This always felt like the place for me,” said Longoria, 39. “I always felt comfortable putting on the Rays jersey. ...

“It feels really good to be able to come back and put this jersey on and kind of celebrate what we created here.”

The Rays’ era of success started basically with Longoria, who was drafted in 2006, the first year owner Stuart Sternberg ran the team known at the time as the Devil Rays. Longoria reached the majors in

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