The Rays have acquired 28-year old lefty swinging outfielder Gabe Gross from the Brewers for 23-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Butler. Gross has played in 16 games for the Brewers this season and he is 9 for 43 (.209 avg, .631 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Gross has now played in 310 games in his major league career and he is 159 for 655 (.243 avg, .745 OPS) with 105 runs scored, 20 homers, 87 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Gross will likely platoon in RF with Johnny Gomes until Cliff Floyd is ready to return to action. Josh Butler was the #16 ranked prospect in the Rays minor league system according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. Butler started 3 games in A-ball so far this season and he was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.

The Rays have claimed 28-year old lefty swinging 1B/DH Dan Johnson off waivers from the A’s. He played in only 1 game for the A’s this season and he was 0 for 1 (.000 avg). Johnson has now played in 318 games in his major league career and he is 268 for 1,078 (.249 avg, .763 OPS) with 137 runs scored, 42 homers and 157 RBIs. This was a good move for the Rays as Johnson will help out at DH until Cliff Floyd is ready to return off the disabled list.

The Rays have placed starting 3B Willy Aybar on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring. Aybar has played in 7 games this season for the Rays and he is 7 for 24 (.292 avg, .870 OPS) with 1 run scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. The Rays have recalled rookie Evan Longoria to replace Aybar at 3B. Longoria has played in 2 games now for the Rays and he is 2 for 6 (.333 avg, .833 OPS) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI. If Longoria plays well the whole time that Aybar is out he will keep the starting job for the Rays.

The Rays have placed lefty swinging DH/OF Cliff Floyd on the 15-day disabled list after he underwent knee surgery last Friday. Floyd has played in 4 games this season for the Rays and he is 5 for 15 (.333 avg, 1.212 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 2 homers and 5 RBIs. The Rays will likely use Eric Hinske and Jonny Gomes in a DH platoon until Floyd is ready to return.

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed righty starter Matt Garza on the D.L. due to a nerve problem. He has started 2 games for the Rays this season and he is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.13 WHIP. Garza will be replaced on the roster by 24-year old righty Jae-Kuk Ryu. Ryu has started 1 game in AAA ball this season and he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Ryu will likely only be on the roster until Garza’s spot in the rotation comes up. When that happens, look for the Rays to recalll Jeff Niemann if he has another good start in AAA ball. The 25-year old Niemann is quite a sight to behold as he stands 6′9″, 280 pounds. Niemann has started 1 game in AAA this season and he is 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He also whiffed 5 batters in 5 innings.