The Tampa Bay Rays placed third baseman Evan Longoria (wrist) on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right wrist. Longoria was hit by a pitch during game action Thursday, August 7. The team originally believed the injury was merely a bruise after initial X-rays were negative. The move is retroactive to Friday, August 8.
The Rays recalled outfielder Justin Ruggiano from Triple-A Durham to take Longoria's roster spot.Longoria was hit on the wrist while facing Mariners closer J.J. Putz, but had been anxious to return, saying that he was feeling a lot better Sunday, August 10.
Infielder Willy Aybar is expected to replace Longoria at the hot corner for the time being; the switch-hitter has filled in for the injured third baseman for the past three days. Infielder Ben Zobrist has also been mentioned as a possibility.
The blow couldn't have come at a worse time for the Rays. Outfielder Carl Crawford (finger) is on the disabled list; it's uncertain how long he'll be out. A wrist fracture for Longoria likely means a minimum of four to six weeks that he'll miss. It won't be easy to replace the .278 average, 22 homers and 71 RBI he posted in 381 at-bats.
Fantasy owners should stash Longoria on their rosters until the Rays announce how much time he'll miss. If it's six weeks or more, it's not worth stashing the slugger in mixed leagues. AL-only owners can be a little more patient. As long as you have a DL spot available, though, it can't hurt to keep him there.
Aybar only has value in AL-only leagues. He slugged two home runs and drove in four Sunday against the Mariners, but he's hitting only .225 with six home runs in 182 at-bats. Zobrist is only a reserve in deep AL-only formats. Ruggiano (.290-1-2 in 31 at-bats with the Rays this year) is expected to receive some at-bats in left field, but like Aybar and Zobrist he's strictly AL-only material.
