Longoria joins Crawford on DL

If it wasn't bad enough to lose LF Carl Crawford, the Rays said Monday that rookie 3B Evan Longoria, their top home run and RBI producer, was also going on the 15-day disabled list because what they thought was a bruise on his right wrist turned out to be a fracture.

Executive VP Andrew Freidman said they expect Longoria to be out about three weeks, give or take a few days. The fracture is nondisplaced, which is a good thing, he said. There was no update on Crawford, who was examined Monday in St. Petersburg by team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan. Friedman said the Rays were still gathering information, and may send it to other doctors for their opinions, before deciding on a course of action.

That leaves the Rays, who hold a 4 1/2 game lead in the American League East heading into the final 44 games of the season without two of their best all-around players.

"Where we are in the standings isn't because of any one player, so this is certainly a challenge for us, but we have great confidence in the guys we do have,'' Friedman said.

OF Justin Ruggiano is being called up from Triple-A Durham, and will play at least part of the time in leftfield, as the Rays are planning to "mix and match" with Ruggiano, Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross and Rocco Baldelli in the corner outfield spots. Willy Aybar, and at times Ben Zobrist, will handle third base.

Though the Rays will continue to monitor the waiver wire (since players can only be traded after July 31 if they are claimed or clear waivers), Friedman downplayed the possibility of acquiring outside help. Essentially, he said the Rays are confident the players they have will step up.

Crawford was hurt in his last at-bat on Saturday and had what the Rays said was a  "tendon subluxation," a problem with the tendon being out of its normal groove. He was examined Monday in St. Petersburg by team hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan.

Longoria was hit by a J.J. Putz pitch in Thursday's game, and missed the next three, but was expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday. Instead, he was put on the DL retroactive to Aug. 8. which means he will out until at least Aug. 23.

After Sunday's game in Seattle, Longoria - who is hitting .278 with 22 homers and 71 RBIs - said there was a "solid" chance he would be back in the lineup for the first game against Oakland and that he "felt a lot better.''

But the Rays decided they'd be more comfortable having him see their own doctor, and flew him back to Tampa on a red-eye flight from San Francisco, confident enough that he was okay that he had a return ticket. But a new exam determined what a Seattle doctor thought was an old fracture was actually a new one. Friedman said in a way it was good news, because if Longoria had kept playing there was a chance he could have sustained a serious injury.

Ruggiano, 26, has been up with the Rays three times already this season, hitting .290 in 15 games. He can play all three outfield positions, and gives the Rays more defense and versatility than if they had recalled Jonny Gomes. Ruggiano was hitting 315 with 11 home runs, 51 RBI, 18 doubles and 20 stolen bases in 66 games for Durham.

Comments

[Dave]

The Rangers are itching for Blalock to get healthy so they can trade him . . . Rays anyone?

Another injury risk, sure, but I'd take him.

That said, watch he Red Sox claim anyone we're interested in just to stop him from coming here.

[Dan B]

My bad on the waivers. I forgot how that worked.

I just hope they do something to improve the team. I think it's imperative the Rays win the division, because home field advantage is a HUGE deal for them come the postseason. I'm just not sure they'll be able to stay on top without those two.

[Waiver Wonderkind]

We had no chance at Adam Dunn since the July deadline. The waivers process works like this: if multiple teams put in claims, the player is granted to the team with the lowest record in that division.

[David L.]

I hate to be negative, but I have to agree w/ Jeff. They could probably absorb losing Crawford, as tough as losing him is. However, losing both for extended periods of time might just make the clock strike midnight.

[Go Rays!!]

I'm getting tired of other teams hitting our players and then they are on the DL.

[Andy]

Dan,

Waivers don't work that way. Diamondbacks were the only team allowed to negotiate over Dunn.

[another jeff]

The Longo injury came after the trade deadline, so I don't think you can blame Friedman. Sounds like it is backdated, but it would be nice to get the assessment of the medical staff as to whether this is really a two-week injury.

I've thought about Bonds, too, but you can't put him in the outfield, so you'd basically just be upgrading Cliff Floyd, who has started to warm up anyway and who is a good character guy.

I've got to think the Sox and Yanks will be putting claims on everyone with a bat from here on out as they did with Giles. They can only block us while we're ahead of them in the standings, so I hope we can keep it up. And I think Aybar is better than any third baseman we're likely to find available.

[Bill]

This team is deep and this will not set the team back as much as you'd think.....it's not like Crawford was lighting it up. Longoria is a big loss defensively as well but at Madden playing all these guys all year at least makes them more ready to play on a regular basis having gotten regular AB's all season.

[Dan B]

Two words.....Barry Bonds. They'll be able to get him for cheap and if he does become a distraction then cut his a**.

What bothers me more, is if the Rays knew Longoria was hurt this bad, they should have done whatever they had to, and bring in Adam Dunn.

Friedman needs to stop hoarding this young pitching and bring in a hitter so they stay can stay atop the division.

[Jeff]

Season's over folks. Next year should be a good year for the Rays, barring injury.

[Bill]

The good news, unlike the past, is at least there is some depth when people get hurt. I do look for them to pick someone up but I'm also excited for Ruggiano to get some playing time.

[David L.]

Upton and Pena are going to really have to step it up now. Just goes to show that even really good teams are just one or two major injuries away from collapse.

[Gary Jordan]

Losing Crawford and Longoria right now is, in a word, nauseating.
Will Longoria's DL list start be back dated?

[Caleb]

David, Evan's is not season ending. Expect the Rays to make a move now that brings a good bat into the lineup, they have no choice at this point. The outfield looks good though with Ruggiano in Left, Upton in Center, and Baldelli/Gross in Right.

I'm sure they'll claim a 3rd baseman off of waivers.

[David L]

Well that was fun while it lasted. Any word on if Evan's injury is season ending?

[Tim]

Oh man !!!!!!! "C C" isn't as bad a hit as Longo.. I guess it's time for the troops to circle the wagons and hold on until he is back ... Looking at the schedule hopefully they can win the Oakland series and split with the Rangers..the Red Sox schedule isn't a pushover either..

[David]

NO! Now we really need to make a move eat a salary get something in the middle of our lineup. Its a magiccal season, lets hop injuries dont ruin it. Oh No!! im getting scared.