Rays deal Dickerson to Pirates for Hudson
Tampa Bay traded All-Star designated hitter Corey Dickerson to Pittsburgh on Thursday in exchange for relief pitcher Daniel Hudson, minorleague infielder Tristan Gray and cash.
Dickerson, 28, was designated for assignment Saturday. He was the AL’s starting DH in last summer’s All-Star Game, but struggled at the plate the second half of the season. The trade lets the Rays shed Dickerson’s $5.95 million salary.
Hudson is a 30-year-old right-hander who went 2-7 with a 4.38 ERA in a careerhigh 71 appearances in 2017. He’s 37-30 with a 3.98 career ERA over eight seasons with the Pirates, White Sox and Diamondbacks.
Hudson has 59 career starts, but has pitched primarily as a reliever since returning from a second Tommy John surgery in 2015.
Vitale a frustrated Rays fan: Dick Vitale, like many Tampa Bay fans, has had enough with the recent spate of moves aimed at reducing payroll. On Wednesday, the ESPN collegebasketball analyst and longtime Rays season-ticket holder took aim at team owner Stuart Sternberg.
“If you don’t want to own a team and give the fans a chance (to see competitive baseball), sell the team,” the Basketball Hall of Famer told the Tampa Bay Times.
“There’ll be a buyer in a heartbeat.”
Vitale, who lives in Lakewood Ranch, added:
“Very frustrated as a fan. We pay major-league prices (for tickets). We want to see majorleague baseball. I have nothing against the young kids they’re getting. Prospects, prospects, prospects. But it’s just not fair. It’s not fair to the fans. It’s not fair to Chris Archer, to Kevin Kiermaier. And it’s just very frustrating.”
Briefly: Pitcher Chris Tillman and Baltimore finalized a $3 million, one-year contract that allows him to earn an additional $7 million in performance bonuses . ... San Diego manager Andy Green says newly acquired first baseman Eric Hosmer won’t play in at least the first two spring games. Hosmer agreed late Monday to a $144 million, eight-year contract . ... Tampa Bay prospect Brent Honeywell left the mound during a live battingpractice session with what the team diagnosed as a right forearm strain.