The D-Rays have recalled 31 year old Dustan Mohr from AAA Durham.  Mohr probably should have made the D-Rays out of Spring Training as he looked really good then.  Mohr will likely fit in much better than Dukes did with the Rays for two reasons:  1.)  He’s not a village idiot and 2.)  He’s much better suited to play off the bench than the younger Dukes.  Mohr has played in 497 major league games and he’s 338 for 1,351 (.250 avg, .748 OPS) with 202 runs scored, 48 homers and 154 RBIs.

Elijah Dukes was given every chance to succeed by the Devil Rays and he blew it.  The Devil Rays have optioned Dukes to Single-A Vero Beach because neither Durham or Montgomery (AAA+AA D-Rays affiliates) would allow Dukes to return to their teams.  Dukes was placed on the inactive list for now until he undergoes some counseling.  Dukes often looked overmatched in the majors anyways despite all of his talent.  In 52 games, Dukes was 35 for 184 (.190 avg, .709 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 10 homers and 21 RBIs.  Hopefully Dukes goes down to the minors and get’s his life straightened out, but I have my doubts.  Personally, I hope the D-Rays can trade him for some pitching that can help them out at the major league level…but that can’t happen until Dukes gets his life going in the right direction.

The Devil Rays have been good at finding players that are a little down on their luck and giving them a chance.  That paid of last season with Ty Wigginton and Greg Norton who both played well for them last season.  This season the D-Rays gave Carlos Pena a chance after he played most of last season in AAA ball for the Yankees.  The Yankees loss is the Devil Rays gain as Pena has been fantastic for the D-Rays this season.  In 56 games, Pena is 54 for 172 (.314 avg, 1.073 OPS) with 35 runs scored, 16 homers and 43 RBIs for the Rays.  Pena has also played great defense this season for the D-Rays and it’s helped the whole infield.  Teams are going to be lining up for Pena at the trade deadline but the Devil Rays should resist and keep Pena around because he makes the whole team better and he’s playing cheap.

The D-Rays have lost Ruddy Lugo and Chris Seddon on waivers.  Lugo was snatched up by the Oakland A’s after the D-Rays designated him for assignment.  Lugo was awful this season for the D-Rays but he was decent last year.  In Lugo’s two years with the D-Rays he pitched in 75 games and compiled a 4-4 record with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.  Chris Seddon was lost on waivers to the Florida Marlins.  The D-Rays don’t view the loss of Seddon as anything to be concerned about as they didn’t believe he had major league stuff.  In 12 AA games this season, Seddon was 3-4 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.

The D-Rays have placed B.J. Upton on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left quad muscle.  This will hurt the Devil Rays offense as Upton has been their best hitter so far this season.  In 56 games, Upton is 64 for 200 (.320 avg, .941 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 9 homers, 31 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.  The D-Rays have recalled Jonny Gomes to replace Upton on the roster.  Gomes will probably get a decent amount of playing time until Upton is ready to return so he needs to prove that he deserves to stay with the big league team.  In 20 games this season, Gomes is 10 for 52 (.192 avg, .669 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 6 RBIs.