"Manny Ramirez said he passed up more money to play elsewhere. Johnny Damon said he's getting to play for his "dream" team.

The two newest members of the Rays – introduced Tuesday at a new conference dominated by optimism and light banter – said they're confident their new team will compete.

"Absolutely ... This team could win the American League East," Damon said. "What I really like about this team is you have two guys that you would really like to build any franchise around, and that's David Price and (Evan) Longoria."

Said Ramirez, "Like Johnny said: The pitching is great. Me and Johnny, we could help. We have a lot of experience. I think we could work with the young guys and make them better."

Eleven days after the initial reports that the Rays had reached agreements with the two veteran free agents, the team made their signings to one-year contracts official Tuesday. Damon, 37, will earn $5.25 million plus incentives, while Ramirez, 38, will make $2 million. New left fielder Damon will wear No. 22 and new DH Ramirez will have No. 24.

Agent Scott Boras, who participated in the news conference, said that while the veterans were not signed as a package deal, the dual signing was the product of one conversation leading to another.

He said Rays vice president Andrew Friedman first began talking to him about signing Damon and, "through the process, we began talking about Manny serving as a DH for the team."

The acquisitions, coming after the Rays lost All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford, first baseman Carlos Pena and much of their bullpen to free agency and traded away starting pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett, give Tampa Bay two of three active players with 2,500 hits, 1,500 runs and 800 extra base hits.

Raumirez, 38, is a 12-time All-Star and nine-time Silver Slugger who ranks 14th on the career home-run list with 555. Damon owns a .287 batting average with 2,571 hits, 215 home runs and 385 stolen bases.

Manager Joe Maddon called the two newcomers "Hall of Fame-caliber players.""