Our heads are spinning over here at Rays Index. The following is an actual title of a press release from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays earlier today posted on MLB.com: "Rays DL Julio Lugo; Release RHP Jesus Colome; Sign veteran INF Tomas Perez; Recall RHP Scott Dunn; Acquire RHP Marcos Carvajal from Seattle." We are still consulting our abacus to try and figure out exactly who will be playing for the D-Rays tonight and in the immediate future. If we are reading this right, and we would like to think we are, Julio Lugo, is the second shortstop to hit the DL in two days, following Luis Ordaz, who was switched from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, meaning his season is likely over. Joe Maddon made it clear that the team will not be recalling B.J. Upton from Durham to fill in for the disabled shortstops. Last night, utility man Nick Green played shortstop, going 0-3 with one walk and one run scored. To help fill the need up the middle, the D-Rays today signed Tomas Perez, who has played parts of 10 seasons with Toronto and Philadelphia. He is a career .244 hitter with 22 home runs and 5 stolen bases. He can play all four infield positions and did not commit an error in 95 games in 2005. To replace Colome, the team claimed Scott Dunn, off of waivers from the Dodgers. Colome was released after throwing just 5 pitches and injuring his shoulder. The interesting thing here is the players have talked a lot this spring about how relaxed the atmosphere was in the clubhouse with new manager Joe Maddon. Now all of the sudden Colome throws 5 pitches, retiring one batter and walking the other before leaving injured and the next day he is gone. Maybe this will shake up the team, especially the pitching staff.
Rays DL Julio Lugo; Release RHP Jesus Colome; Sign veteran INF Tomas Perez; Recall RHP Scott Dunn; Acquire RHP Marcos Carvajal from Seattle [MLB.com]