Aki to DL, Cantu to return

Last night's win over the Yankees came at a cost, as the Rays will have to place 3B Akinori Iwamura on the disabled list with a strained right oblique today.

The team will recall Jorge Cantu from Triple-A Durham.

It's still not clear when during Monday's game Iwamura was injured. He played the entire game and had two hits against former Central League opponent Kei Igawa. He reached base four times (two hits, two walks) and scored three runs for the Rays.

Cantu is hitting .267 with no homers and eight RBIs in 75 at bats in Durham. The team's MVP in '05, Cantu was the last player cut during spring training. With Iwamura's absence, the Rays can use Ty Wigginton, Brendan Harris and maybe even Cantu at third base. Cantu has spent time recently playing first base at Durham, after he was used solely as a DH at the end of spring training when B.J. Upton took over the second base job.

Because it's an oblique injury, the Rays aren't sure how long Iwamura will be sidelined, but sometimes those type of injuries can take months to heal, based on the severity. Regardless, the Rays are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Comments

[Darius Trunk]

What will their regular infield look like while Iwamura is gone? Will Cantu be a good pickup in Fantasy Baseball, or will he just be pinch-hitting?