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| Ryan Roberts is headed from Arizona to Tampa Bay. (Getty Images) |
Mere hours after the Diamondbacks designated infielder Ryan Roberts for assignment, the Rays have acquired him in a trade.
Roberts, coming off a 19-homer campaign in 2011, is hitting a disappointing .250/.306/.357 this season. However, he has a career OPS of .815 against left-handed pitching (the Rays rank 11th in the AL in OPS vs. lefties) and can capably man third, second and either of the outfield corners. For a Rays team that's struggled to get any production whatsoever from second and, in the ongoing absence of Evan Longoria, third, Roberts could be useful.
Headed to Arizona will be minor-league second baseman Tyler Bortnick. The 25-year-old Bortnick has speed on the bases and also boasts a career OBP of .396 across parts of four minor-league seasons.
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