Rays get Oswaldo Arcia from Twins to bolster ailing outfield

Published 12:00 pm Saturday, June 25, 2016

The Tampa Bay Rays addressed a need for help in the outfield Friday, acquiring left-handed hitting Oswaldo Arcia from the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named or $45,000.

The move is designed to bolster an outfield that’s missing starters Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza Jr., as well as reserves Brandon Guyer and Mikie Mahtook, all of whom are on the 15-day disabled list.

The Rays, who play in Baltimore on Friday night, cleared room on the 40-man roster by designating right-handed pitcher Andrew Bellati for assignment. The team will announce another move to open a spot on the active roster.

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The 25-year-old Arcia batted .214 with four homers and 12 RBI in 32 games with the Twins this season. He is a .240 career hitter with 40 home runs and 120 RBI over parts of four big league seasons.

“He’s put together some pretty good seasons,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s shown some power in the past.”

Cash was Cleveland’s bullpen coach when he saw Arcia playing for the Twins.

“He actually beat us up pretty good,” Cash recalled. “So it’s just another piece that we can maybe add and mix and match with. Hopefully a change of scenery will do him well and do us well in the meantime.”