ST. PETERSBURG — Infielder Jonathan Aranda was called up from Triple-A Durham Friday in the first of a series of roster moves the Rays will make over the next few days, hoping to put a good finish on what has been a disappointing and frustrating season.
Expected to play a key role on the major-league club, Aranda was sidelined late in spring training with a broken right ring finger and didn’t make his debut until mid-May.
He lasted only a month, sent to Durham after batting .213 with a .608 OPS. He struggled there, too, hitting .184 with a .650 OPS over two weeks. On June 20, he sustained a left oblique strain that sidelined him until last week.
He returned to action with something of a vengeance, hitting .435 (10-for-23) with four homers in six games.
“The mentality I came (back with) is I’ve got nothing to lose at this point,” Aranda said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “The results are looking good, and I feel good.”
The Rays noticed. And though Aranda likely won’t start much, manager Kevin Cash said the lefty swinger will get some meaningful at-bats. Friday, he took over at first base after Yandy Diaz left in the fourth inning due to left knee patellar tendinitis. His status is day to day.
“(Aranda) can certainly come off the bench,” Cash said. “We would like to see Johnny do some good things, because we were so high on him coming in. And then between the finger injury, the oblique injury, just a lot of inconsistencies, but nice to have him back. … He’s had a trying season.”
To make room, the Rays sent down outfielder Kameron Misner, who played in only eight of the 25 games since his Aug. 2 callup, going 1-for-15.
The Rays will make several more moves over the next few days.
On Sunday, rosters expand from 26 to 28, with a pitcher and a position player expected to be added. Candidates could include relievers Hunter Bigge and Joel Kuhnel, and infielders Osleivis Basabe and Curtis Mead.
As soon as Monday, the Rays are expected to reinstate starter Zack Littell, who is ready to go after two weeks on the injured list due to right shoulder fatigue.
In other injury news:
• Infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios (right knee sprain) is doing on-field work and slated to start playing games at the Port Charlotte complex on Sept. 9. With a slow build-up planned, Cash said “it’ll be close” for Palacios to make it back by the Sept. 29 season finale.
• Closer Pete Fairbanks is no longer feeling symptoms of the right lat strain that forced him out of the Aug. 18 game and will play catch Saturday. Cash said there has been no discussion yet of a potential return date.
Familiar face
Former Rays and now Padres reliever Jason Adam took a circuitous route back to Tropicana Field on Friday afternoon.
He traveled in an Uber from the team’s Tampa hotel to his former rental house in Gulfport to pack up some possessions left behind after the July 28 trade, took another Uber to Intermezzo Coffee on Central Avenue, then rode a scooter to the stadium.
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Explore all your optionsHe popped into the Rays clubhouse to say some hellos, then headed down the hall to join his new mates.
“Definitely felt weird to keep walking and go to the visiting clubhouse,” he said. “But it’s always good to be back in a familiar place and a place with a lot of good memories.”
Adam acknowledged the fans after the Rays showed a tribute video during the game.
Miscellany
Shane Baz said he will be at full strength for Saturday’s start after spending last weekend confined to a hotel bed in Los Angeles with a severe case of the flu. … Olympic swimmer Bobby Finke, a Countryside High product, sported his gold and silver medals while throwing out the first pitch. … With Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday graduating off mlb.com’s prospect list, Rays infielder Junior Caminero took over the No. 1 spot. ... Friday was the Rays’ longest nine-inning game of the year at 3 hours, 26 minutes.
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