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Tuesday, the Rays acquired outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker from the Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations, the team confirmed. Right-handed pitcher Jose De Leon was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster. Hazelbaker will report to Triple-A Durham.
We've acquired OF Jeremy Hazelbaker from Arizona in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, RH José De León (Tommy John) was transferred to the 60-day DL.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 10, 2018
Hazelbaker will join Triple-A @DurhamBulls. pic.twitter.com/mC4F1QBtk9
Hazelbaker, 30, was designated for assignment by Arizona on April 6. The left-handed-hitting outfielder had played in one game for the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in Reno.
In 285 major league plate appearances between St. Louis and Arizona from 2016-17, Hazelbaker has a .258 average with a .327 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage, good for a 115 OPS+. He has played all three outfield positions but has spent most of his time in left field.
He was originally a fourth-round pick by Boston in 2009. In 2013, he was traded to the Dodgers, who released him in 2015. He eventually caught on with St. Louis, where he made his major league debut in 2016. The Diamondbacks claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals following that season.
In Durham, Hazelbaker will join an outfield that features two of the organization’s top-30 prospects in Justin Williams and Joe McCarthy, as well as Triple-A veterans Jason Coats, Johnny Field, and Micah Johnson.