Rays acquire Duda from Mets, Jennings from White Sox
NEW YORK » Dan Jennings walked into the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse, saw Logan Morrison walk by and gave his old Miami Marlins teammate a poke on the arm. Morrison did a double take and gave the pitcher a hug.
Rays reinforcements arrive daily.
Tampa Bay acquired Jennings from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday to boost the left side of the bullpen and obtained first baseman Lucas Duda from the New York Mets. The Rays sent first baseman Casey Gillaspie, the 20th overall draft pick in 2014, to the White Sox and right-hander Drew Smith, a third-round selection two years ago, to the Mets.
The Rays, 3 games out of first in the AL East, are trying to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They obtained infielder Trevor Plouffe from Oakland on June 17, infielder Adeiny Hechavarria from the Marlins on June 26 and right-hander Sergio Romo from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 23.
“This has been a great group to watch play and to play themselves into the position that we’re in,” Tampa Bay senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said. “We believe in these guys and we really like these group, and we want to keep sending them reinforcements to show them that we want to do everything we can to help them get where they’re trying to go.”
Jennings was 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 48 appearances for the White Sox this season and held left-handed hitters to a .169 batting average (12 for 71) with one extra-base hit.
“Over the last four weeks we’ve seen his stuff kind of tick up,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Duda, a 31-year-old eligible for free agency after this season, is hitting .246 with 17 homers and 37 RBIs. The Rays envision him spending most of his time at designated hitter.
“I’ve heard rumors and stuff,” Duda said at the Mets clubhouse in San Diego. “Kind of a mixed emotion. Guys here I’ve really grown pretty close to.”
Nats place Strasburg on DL with elbow injury
WASHINGTON Strasburg has on the 10-day » Stephen been placed disabled list by the Washington Nationals, who want the standout right-hander to rest his elbow by missing a turn in the rotation.
The Nationals describe the injury as a “right elbow nerve impingement.” The move, made Thursday, is retroactive to July 24.
Manager Dusty Baker says Strasburg “is not feeling right,” so the righty will skip a start for NL East leaders.
Strasburg is 10-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 20 games.
He was removed from his last start after just two innings on July 23 in Arizona.
Braves ship Swanson to minors
ATLANTA » The Atlanta Braves optioned struggling shortstop Dansby Swanson to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Swanson was expected to be the figurehead of a rebuilding team. He was the No. 1 overall pick by Arizona in 2015.
He has hit only .213 with six homers and 35 RBIs. He has only three hits in 25 at-bats since the All-Star break.
The team says a corresponding move will be made before Friday’s game against the Phillies.