St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – The Tampa Bay Rays have designated
pitcher Grant Balfour for assignment.
Balfour was in the final season of a two-year deal and was coming off a rough
outing on Saturday against the Yankees when he surrendered three runs on just
one hit and three walks in only two-thirds of an inning in New York’s 9-0 win.
The 37-year-old right-hander rejoined the Rays in 2014 after three seasons in
Oakland. He also pitched for Tampa Bay from 2007-10 and his 274 appearances
with the club are second only to Joel Peralta’s 296.
Balfour owns a career record of 30-23 with a 3.49 ERA in 534 games, all but
one out of the bullpen, with Tampa Bay, Oakland, Milwaukee and Minnesota.
The Rays selected the contract of pitcher Brandon Gomes from Triple-A Durham
to fill the roster spot.
