Tampa Bay Rays Make a Number of Moves
Jun 29, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jose Molina (28) celebrates with pitcher Joel Peralta (62) after a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Rays won 12-7. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Rays made a number of moves Thursday night and into Friday morning, highlighted by the trade of righty Joel Peralta to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Peralta was sent to L.A. along with reliever Adam Liberatore in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jose Dominguez and minor-league pitcher Greg Harris.
The deal is the first between former Rays GM Andrew Friedman and his predecessor Matt Silverman.
In a separate move, the Rays also designated Jose Molina for assignment. Silverman now has 10 days to trade the 39-year-old catcher or release him and pay his $2.75 million salary.
The Rays then added Dominguez, pitchers Matt Andriese and Grayson Garvin, catcher Justin O’Conner, outfielder Mikie Mahtook and infielder Ryan Brett to the 40-man roster to protect them in next month’s Rule 5 draft.
Cole Figueroa and Michael Kohn were designated for assignment.
Peralta’s $2.5 million option was picked up earlier this month but it may have been so with the thought of trading him. Peralta holds the Rays record for most appearances by a pitcher with 296. He went 11-22 in four seasons with a 3.58 ERA.
Dominguez pitched in just five games last season for the Dodgers and had an 11.37 ERA after giving up eight earned runs in 6.1 innings. In 33.1 innings with Triple-A Albuquerque, he went 1-2 with 10 saves and a 3.24 ERA.
By DFAing Molina, the Rays eliminate one of Friedman’s final deals as Rays GM. Molina had an atrocious 2014, hitting just .178 with two extra base hits. Although considered an extremely good framer of pitchers, Molina threw out just 12-of-50 base stealers this past season.
It appears Curt Casali will back up Ryan Hanigan in 2015 unless the Rays make another move at catcher.
According to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Rays will also trim their managerial search on Friday from the 10 previously mentioned candidates.