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Rays bolster Triple-A depth by acquiring Astros' Eury Perez

 
Outfielder Eury Perez, acquired from the Astros for cash, has also played for the Nats, Yankees and Braves.
Outfielder Eury Perez, acquired from the Astros for cash, has also played for the Nats, Yankees and Braves.
Published June 24, 2016

BALTIMORE — The Rays, at this point, don't seem likely to bring in an established player, such as Carl Crawford or any other veterans, to fill the void created by having DH Steve Pearce and four outfielders on the disabled list.

But they did make a small move Thursday to add some depth at Triple-A Durham in acquiring OF Eury Perez from the Astros for an undisclosed amount of cash.

Perez, 26, has big-league time with the Nationals (2012-13), Yankees (2014) and Braves (2015). He was hitting .267 with a .683 OPS and nine steals for Houston's Triple-A team.

Though likely to stay with the Bulls, Perez could be an option at some point for the Rays, and does have some speed which could be of some help.

The Rays expect OFs Brandon Guyer (hamstring) and Steven Souza Jr. (hip strain) to be back sometime during a homestand that starts Monday.

MORE MOORE: Having smoothed out an issue or two in his mechanics, LHP Matt Moore takes the mound tonight feeling better about working six-plus innings in his last three starts and allowing only two earned runs over his last two. "Just trying to pick up where I left off the last couple and put us with a good chance to win," Moore said.

GOING, GOING GELTZ: After two decent outings in his return from Triple A, RHP Steve Geltz looked to be back to the same problems that led to his demotion in allowing two home runs Tuesday, giving him nine this season.

Geltz insists he won't let it get him down and he will work through it.

"If there's one thing I've learned in all this it's that you can't hang your head because it will just eat you up. It really will,' he said. "Like (manager Kevin) Cash said, 'I'm out there trying, I'm out there competing as best I can.'

"It just seems like such a run of bad pitches. And when I make a mistake, it doesn't get missed. … It's one of those things where you keep your head up. It's a belief. If you believe you are going to come out of it and come out on top, you will."

Geltz leads AL relievers in home runs allowed this season.

"It's going to be an uphill battle for me, and I'm not one to steer away from any kind of battle," he said. "I've been battling my whole life. It's going to be a grind, and I'm ready for it. … But to hang your head doesn't do any good. It doesn't help anybody. These guys (in the clubhouse) don't want to see it. It's a cancer, and it doesn't do any good."

MISCELLANY: Cash said they may not decide until after tonight's game whether they are better off calling up a reliever or a position player as the 26th man for Saturday's doubleheader. … INF Richie Shaffer left Triple-A Durham's Wednesday game with a looked-worse-than-it-was neck strain but was back in the lineup Thursday. … With Pearce on the DL, Cash said versatile Taylor Motter would back up 1B Logan Morrison.