Rays Acquire Ryan Roberts From Diamondbacks

Yesterday afternoon the Diamondbacks designated Ryan Roberts for assignment.  Last night, he was traded.

The plan all along was to clear roster space while still allowing themselves the ability to trade Roberts.  When the moves was made to designate him, he and most media outlets said a trade was imminent.  That trade has now been made as the Rays acquired him for minor leaguer Tyler Bortnick.

Roberts has been struggling this year and was losing playing time to Ryan Wheeler.  Wheeler was recently called up from Triple-A Reno and has been sharing time at third.  Wheeler will likely split time at third now with Willie Bloomquist.

The Diamondbacks are getting a 25-year old minor leaguer in Bortnick.  He is currently at Double-A which has to be concerning based on his age.  In four minor league seasons, Bortnick, a second baseman, is hitting .289/.396/.431.  He does have three seasons in which he hit better than .300.

For more on the Diamondbacks, be sure to check out Venom Strikes.