The Durham Bulls have signed free agent RHP Matt DeSalvo. The 28 year-old was originally signed May 15, 2003, by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent out of Marietta College. At Division III Marietta he set All-Division records for wins (53) and strikeouts (603) and was named Baseball America's Small College Player of the Year in 2003. He was granted free agency from the Yankees on December 12, 2007, and signed with the Atlanta Braves on February 7, 2008. He was granted free agency from the Braves on September 4, 2008. In 2008 for the Atlanta Braves DeSalvo appeared in 2 games in relief, putting up a 31.50 ERA in 2.0 innings. For the AAA Richmond Braves he was 2-11 with a 4.87 ERA in 34 games (8 starts). In 92.1 innings he struck out 91 and walked 55. He also appeared in the majors for the Yankees in 2007, going 1-3 with a 6.18 ERA in 7 games (6 starts).
The Tampa Bay Rays called up LHRP Randy Choate from the Durham Bulls. The 33 year-old was 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA in 21 appearances for the Bulls. Over 19.1 innings he struck out 15 and walked 9 with a 3.10 GO/AO and a .216 batting average against.
The Durham Bulls have placed 1B Chris Richard on the 7-day disabled list, retroactive to May 24, 2009. The 34 year-old has hit .273/.365/.590 in 139 AB's with 11 HR's this year for the Bulls.
SS/2B Brandon Chaves has been assigned to the Durham Bulls from the Montgomery Biscuits. The 29 year old has hit .232/.350/.297 in 138 AB's for the Biscuits this season. The Rays have not announced a corresponding move, leaving the Biscuits one shy of the Southern League maximum of 24 active players. They currently have 23 active players with one (Jeremy Hellickson) currently on the disabled list.
Wow, signing Desalvo will really help the Rays bullpen, that's the best they could do? Hopefully he never sees the majors in Tampa Bay..It just keeps getting worse, when it rains it purs literally
ReplyDeleteDeSalvo is probably just bullpen help for Durham while Thayer, Choate, etc are up in Tampa. I highly doubt he sees action in TB unless a couple more guys go down.
ReplyDeleteExactly Nick, he's not intended to help the Rays bullpen. I don't know who you want them to sign JMS, Pedro? Clemens? Gagne? Anyone good isn't a free agent in May.
ReplyDeletegreat moove picking up DeSalvo. This kid will make it big for the Rays.
ReplyDeleter
I watched Desalvo play for the Yankees. He has some great stuff, but hasn't hit his groove in the majors yet. You can't deny his AAA stats. Give the guy a chance!
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