BOSTON — The Rays took a cautious approach in putting OF Mallex Smith on the 10-day disabled list due to tightness in his right hamstring, and they made what they believed was a safe move in replacing him with OF Shane Peterson, who homered in his first at-bat against the Red Sox on Friday.
As a byproduct, the Rays acknowledged that high-leverage RH reliever Brad Boxberger will be sidelined into June while working back from a flexor strain, shifting him to the 60-day DL to create space on the 40-man roster. "It makes the most sense because (Boxberger) wasn't going to be back any time before that anyways," manager Kevin Cash said.
Peterson has previous big-league time with the Brewers (93 games in 2015) and A's (two in 2013), which made him more appealing than any of the Rays' prospects. And being a lefty hitter, like Smith, he was a better fit to keep the roster balanced and the outfield platoon intact, with Peter Bourjos playing versus lefty starters.
Peterson, 29, signed a minor-league deal with the Rays for the chance to play his way back to form after missing most of the 2016 season with left forearm issues that required July elbow nerve surgery.
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"Any time you go under the knife, you never really know what's going to happen," he said. "I'm definitely thankful to be here."
The decision to turn to Peterson looked even better when he hit a two-run homer in the first.
"We sign those guys in the offseason for chances like this happening," Cash said. "You don't ever want to see anybody go down, but you like to have a guy that has some history playing in the big leagues, and Shane has that. And he did a good job for us in spring training."
How long Peterson stays seems out of his hands, depending primarily on how soon OF Colby Rasmus (groin) resumes and then completes a short minor-league rehabilitation assignment. Rays officials said Rasmus is expected to get back on the field soon, but they hadn't set a date.
Smith, who had been a spark plug the first two weeks of the season, said the hamstring remained tight but he expected to resume running in a few days and be ready when eligible to return April 24, though he may be sent to the minors then.
Starting prospect Guerrieri has elbow injury
RHP Taylor Guerrieri had to leave his Thursday start for Triple-A Durham with what the team called only a right elbow injury. That doesn't sound good for Guerrieri, a 2011 first-round draft pick who had Tommy John elbow surgery in July 2013 and was pitching for the first time in six pro seasons above the Double-A level. The Rays said they were still evaluating his condition and wouldn't have a specific diagnosis for several days.
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Explore all your optionsQuote of the day
"It seems like there's always germs flying around here regardless if there is a flu going around, whatever it is. Everyone feels kind of sluggish after we leave here, but I guess that's kind of the territory when your park is 100-plus years old."
RHP Jake Odorizzi, on the Fenway Park conditions, which the Rays tried to combat by having two Synexis biodefense high-tech air filtration systems up and running in the clubhouse.
It happens every year
Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi and Red Sox LHP Chris Sale match up today for the second straight year on April 15. Last year was a doozy, Sale throwing a two-hit shutout for the White Sox, Odorizzi seven shutout innings.
Numbers of the day
7 Players of the Rays' active 25 added to the 40-man roster since the start of spring training: OF Peter Bourjos, RHP Jumbo Diaz, RHP Tommy Hunter, C Derek Norris, OF Shane Peterson, C Jesus Sucre, 1B Rickie Weeks
9 Players who homered in their first plate appearance with Rays: Esteban Yan, Gerald Williams, Terry Shumpert, George Lombard, Kevin Cash, Dan Johnson, Brandon Guyer, Jake Elmore and Shane Peterson on Friday
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Miscellany
. The Rays and Red Sox, and members of all other teams, will wear No. 42 today to commemorate Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier.
. As much as the Rays, and other teams, complain about the cramped Fenway Park clubhouse, they were pleased to see the dugout widened by 3 feet, part of a renovation that, besides reducing foul territory, coincidentally allowed the Sox to add an extra row of premium seats.
. There was yet another extension in week-long talks to keep Rays games, via Fox Sports Sun, on Spectrum cable systems, with the new deadline TBD.
. The Rays noted — and posted on Twitter — that Friday was their first meeting without David Ortiz on the Red Sox active roster or DL since Sept. 29, 2002.
. Palmetto High product Granden Goetzman was promoted to Triple A for the first time, replacing Shane Peterson on the Durham roster.