ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays cleared the way for manager Lou Piniella to begin assembling a staff Tuesday when the team fired pitching coach Jackie Brown and hitting coach Milt May.

Brown and May each had one year remaining on their contracts, and could be shifted to the team's minor league system. They worked one season under former manager Hal McRae, who was fired last month. Piniella was hired as McRae's replacement on Monday, signing a $13 million, four-year contract.

The Devil Rays also announced that first base coach Lee May and bullpen coach Glenn Ezell, whose contracts expired after this season, will not be offered contracts for 2003.