Tampa Bay Rays place Taylor Gurrieri on DL & continue September call-ups

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to make September call-ups as they have selected the contracts of OF Mallex Smith, LHP Jose Alvarado, and RHP Chaz Roe from Triple-A Durham. Roe needed a spot on the 40-man roster, so the Rays also selected the contract of 2011 first round pick, Taylor Gurrieri, and placed him on the 60-day DL.

Mallex Smith was with the Rays for the majority of the season after breaking camp with the club. He provides the club with a pinch-run and defensive replacement late in games. He has already proven his speed is a game changer as he causes havoc anytime he manages to put a ball in play. Thus far in 2017, he has slashed .279/.342/.374 with two home runs to go along with 16 stolen bases, good for a 96 wRC+ over 67 games.

Jose Alvarado was surprising early season addition to the Rays major league squad back in May, as he was promoted directly from Double-A. However, the young flame throwing southpaw quickly showed he could stick in the majors he carved through opposing hitters. The league caught up however and Alvarado has been up and down between Durham and the majors.

The Rays acquired Chaz Roe back in July from the Atlanta Braves and have stashed him in Durham ever since. He has major league experience over five seasons dating back to 2013, with the latest coming for the Braves earlier this year. Since joining Durham, he may have figured something out as his K% is hovering around 40%, striking out 35 of 88 batters.

Three more additions for the Rays that improve the team, not immensely, but certainly noticeably as all three players will have a set role going forward. The Rays active roster now has 33 players on it with the additions of Smith, Alvarado, and Roe.