The Rays have signed 41-year old lefty reliever Brian Shouse to a minor league deal. They then immediately placed Shouse on the 15-day disabled list as he has a knee sprain. When he feels a little better he will go on a rehab assignment. Shouse pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season and he was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 467 games (0 starts) in his 10 years in the majors and he is 13-10 with 6 saves, a 3.72 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. This was a good move for the Rays as Shouse will give them a 2nd lefty out of the pen when he gets healthy.

The Rays have placed 34-year old righty swinging outfielder Gabe Kapler on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip flexor strain. Kapler has played in 38 games for the Rays this year and he is 18 of 83 (.217 avg, .582 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Rays have recalled 28-year old righty swinging outfielder Justin Ruggiano to replace Kapler on the roster. Ruggiano has played in 44 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 51 of 175 (.291 avg, .786 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 4 homers, 19 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He has played in 52 games the last two years for the Rays and he is 18 of 90 (.200 avg, .561 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 2 homers, 10 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Ruggiano’s stay with the Rays will likely be a short one ending when Jason Bartlett comes off the D.L.

The Rays have placed 30-year old righty swinging shortstop Jason Bartlett on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Bartlett has played in 48 games this season for the Rays and he is 42 of 182 (.231 avg, .657 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 1 homer, 22 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Bartlett will be replaced by 24-year old lefty swinging Reid Brignac at SS until he’s ready to return to action. Brignac has played in 42 games for the Rays this season and he is 35 of 117 (.299 avg, .807 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 2 homers, 22 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Look for Brignac to do a solid job while Bartlett is out of action.

27-year old lefty reliever J.P. Howell has flown to see Dr. James Andrews today and he could need surgery to repair a torn left labrum which would cause him to miss the rest of the season and part of 2011. Howell pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Rays last season in which he was 7-5 with 17 saves, a 2.84 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. In his four years with the Rays/Devil Rays, Howell has pitched in 151 games (18 starts) in which he is 15-15, with 20 saves, a 3.97 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. This is a big blow to the Rays as they only have one lefty reliever (Randy Choate) currently on the pitching staff.

UPDATE: Howell has underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder ending his 2010 season.

The Rays have placed catcher Kelly Shoppach on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee sprain. He injured himself blocking the plate against the Yankees last Saturday afternoon. He has played in 4 games for the Rays this season and he is 2 for 8 (.250 avg, .708 OPS) with a double and 1 run scored. The Rays have promoted John Jaso from AAA to replace Shoppach on the roster. Jaso will serve as Dioner Navarro’s backup until Shoppach is ready to return to action. Jaso has played in 3 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 4 for 11 (.364 avg, .788 OPS) with a double, 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. He played in 5 games for the Rays last season and he was 2 for 10 (.200 avg, .400 OPS) with 2 runs scored. The Rays will probably really work Navarro while Shoppach is out of action. Navarro has played in 7 games for the Rays this season and he is 5 for 22 (.227 avg, .488 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

UPDATE: (4/20/2010) - Kelly Shoppach has had arthroscopic surgery on his knee which will keep him out of action for the next 4-6 weeks.