Tuesday Moves

Isaias Velasquez

First a couple from Monday:

The Tampa Bay Rays optioned infielder Will Rhymes to the Durham Bulls. This was to make room on the 25-man roster for Evan Longoria.

Outfielder Isaias Velasquez was sent to the GCL Rays on a rehab assignment. He had been on the Montgomery Biscuits 7-day disabled list since mid-April when he was hit in the face with a flyball. He was 0-3 with a strikeout on Monday and didn't play today.

Now for Tuesday:

The Tampa Bay Rays activated 3B Evan Longoria from the 60-day disabled list after his rehab stint with the Durham Bulls.

The Rays haven't announced it yet, but they have to make another move to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Longoria. Luke Scott is the only player on the 15-day DL who could be moved to the 60-day to open a spot. But it sounds like Scott is nearly ready to return from his right oblique injury, so that won't do it. That means someone will have to be removed by trade, release, or DFA.

Jeff Niemann is scheduled to make his first rehab start for the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Wednesday vs. the Bradenton Marauders. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at Charlotte Sports Park, and RH Kenn Kasparek (0-4, 5.30 ERA) will start for Bradenton. Niemann will be taking LH Braulio Lara's spot in the Stone Crabs rotation.

The Rays have announced that infielder Brooks Conrad has been DFA'd from the Durham Bulls to make room for Longoria on the 40-man roster.