Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.
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Posted Apr 12, 2008 by Marc Lancaster
Updated Apr 11, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Evan Longoria will be in the Rays’ starting lineup—probably batting sixth or seventh—Saturday night against the Orioles, Rays manager Joe Maddon said tonight.
“Obviously we’ve been decimated by injuries a bit, and it’s not necessarily the ideal way we wanted to call him up,” said Andrew Friedman. “But we’re confident in his ability to adjust at the plate and what he brings to us defensively was something we felt was very important with where we’re going.”
The Rays will officially purchase Longoria’s contract from Durham before tomorrow’s game after placing Willy Aybar on the 15-day disabled list tonight with a strained left hamstring. A move will need to be made to get Longoria on the 40-man roster, but that won’t be announced until tomorrow. The Rays may move reliever Chad Orvella from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.
Friedman wouldn’t say how long Longoria might be up, saying it “may be a short-term thing or it may be a long-term thing.” Aybar is expected to miss 2-4 weeks, though he could be sidelined longer.
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Reader Comments
Por (Peter O'Neil) on April 12, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Hi. I’m in a fantasy baseball league where the commissioner won’t accept that Longoria is active until he’s literally on the mlb roster. If an actual announcement to that effect comes out i’d greatly appreciate it by email. thanks. poneil.gmail@canwest.com
Suggest removalPor (Mark) on April 12, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Great, Longoria is coming up to play third, now if the Rays could only find a shortstop. Barlett can’t hit, can’t bunt, can’t throw. Now you know why the Twins were so anxious to get rid of him.
Suggest removalBarlett isn’t strong enough to be considered a punch and judy hitter, he is over matched, and a utility player at best.
Por (john bell) on April 13, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Good I’am very happy for Evan, I am also from the Hudson Valley And am Very pleased to see another Former ‘Gade make the Big Show, even know iam a huge Yankees Fan Lol Good Luck Evan from all your friends in the Hudson Valley
Suggest removal