C Hernandez, INF/OF Johnson called up

UPDATE, 3:15: The Rays have called up Johnson and Hernandez, and to make room on the 40-man roster designated for assignment Joel Guzman. Johnson may start in leftfield tonight.

Johnson spent most of the 2005-07 seasons with the A's, and hit a career high 18 homers last year.

UPDATE, 2:54: Still nothing official from the Rays, but there's reason to expect INF/OF Dan Johnson and C Michel Hernandez to both be joining the team today.

Johnson, acquired in April after being let go by Oakland, had a tremendous season at Durham, hitting .307 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs in 113 games. However, he is primarily a first baseman and DH, playing eight games in the outfield (and 10 at third base).

Both Johnson and Hernandez would have to be added to the 40-man roster.

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C Michel Hernandez, acquired from the Pirates organization on Aug. 31 to help Triple-A Durham's postseason efforts, appears headed to help the Rays, who are expected to add several players before tonight's game.

With backup C Shawn Riggans expected to be sidelined at least three days with inflammation and a possible infection in his right knee, the Rays have only just-called up John Jaso as their backup to Dioner Navarro. That may lead them to Hernandez, a 30-year-old who has extensive Triple-A experience (including 51 games last season with Durham) and played five games for the Yankees in 2003.

Hernandez would have to be added to the 40-man roster, so another move would have to be made. The Rays had veteran Mike DiFelice at Triple-A all season but he was released at the end of the regular season with Jaso was promoted.

Comments

[public place]

fools names like fools faces are always seen public places. harold,ken,jon brain, the rest of yours.

[kazmiroholic]

awesome , dont know how they are doing- as long as they pack the smoke machine and mirrors when they go to new york - congrads to the rays for a gutty tremendous biggest win in franchise history thank you for giving us something to be proud of -

[jon]

Wow, nice homer Dan. I do think this team will be lucky to make the wild card though, after this past week.

[carl]

We have our own version of "Nuke" LaLoosh going tonight. Hopefully, he won't be cute in trying to paint the corners and just get the stinking ball over. Where is Crash Davis when you need him? Oh wait, we have 4 catchers now anyway.

The Rays will be fine. They will break through tonight, beat the Red Sox and take two of three from the Yankees this weekend and all will be well.

Don't forget to breathe through your eyelids!

[harold]

I think you got it right on the money Kazmiroholic. I think they might have been a little over their head and didn't realize how the trading game is played on that side of the ball (wanting instead of unloading)

[kazmiroholic]

I am sure they know they blew it,next year if there in the race , they will pull the trigger on a deal it was really really foreign territory for them being a buyer not a seller. it was a game of chess and they lost .

[Ken]

Credence: The Rays TRIED to get both Nady and Bay, thinking with minutes to go to the deadline that they had a deal for Bay, only to be out-bid by the Red Sox who, by the way, could afford to do what the Rays cannot afford to do -- over pay in a trade. Wanting a player -- even needing a player -- does not mean you can always get that player.

[Amanda]

Sham- Not sure if you saw the update, but they ditched Guzman for Johnson's spot.

[Sham]

"Not true. The Rays never replaced Kurt Birkins on the 40-man. So there's still an open spot. "

Yes, but Johnson needs one too. Thus they have to DFA someone to get someone in.

[Brian J]

That is, bring back Gomes! This slide has made me delirious.

[Brian J]

Brian back Gomes!

[credence in clearwater]

The arrogance of the Rays in not doing what they had to to get Jason Bay or Xavier Nady is now biting them in the behind. The idea of sticking with the guys who got them where they were was foolhardy. Especially when most of these guys were role players, filling in for injured regulars. They had been finding new unlikely heroes from day to day. But these stand-ins are plain tuckered out and no more one-day heroes are to be found. Here in the big leagues, I thought all GMs understood the difference in everyday heroes and one-day wonders. Guess not everywhere....

[charlieRay]

I think you will see Gomes also. Do you think we will see Price after he pitches tonight? I think they should put him in the starting line-up and move Sonny to the pen.

[Harold]

Dan Johnson
aaa stats this year
BA .307 RBI 83 HR 25 SO 75 BB 84
hits 121 in 113 games with 223 doubles
Can play anywhere inf or OF
Got my fingers crossed. Wonder who gets let go/DL to make room?

[harold]

11 seasons BA .261 29 hr, 269 rbi 253 bb
fielding percentage .989 errors 41 in 545 games
Now thats what we need
Awsome numbers like that just smell like victory.
way to toughen up the offense and solidify the big hole at catcher that I didnt know we had.
Jeez
I hate to lose faith but it is being sorely tested.
OUT

[Vin]

"Hernandez would have to be added to the 40-man roster, so another move would have to be made."

Not true. The Rays never replaced Kurt Birkins on the 40-man. So there's still an open spot.

[Jae Seo]

sometimes it rains.

[nick]

You lolly gag your way around the infield. You lolly gag your way around the outfield. You know what that makes you. A bunch of lollygaggers!

[Jae Seo]

JSID, You are an expert. I'm aware they want the ability to PR for a Catcher but would've thought currently they could have used a bat instead of a 3rd (2 minor league) catchers right now. (since BJ is out for the next 4-5 days). Just because you think you're smart, doesn't make you.

[nick]

All the moves we wish we had made at the trade deadline are coming back to haunt us. Cant win a pennant with minor leaguers.

[Jae Seo is Dumb]

Jaso was on the 40 man roster and can Guzman, Johnson, or Richard play catcher? No.

[Jae Seo]

If Jaso isn't ready to handle the backup catcher duties, why was he brought up in the first place? Wouldn't it have made sense to call up Guzman, Johnson, or Richard? Whats going on FO?

[Jonny Gomes]

Put me in Coach... I'm ready. I know there's a lot riding on it, but it's all psychological. I just gotta stay in a positive frame of mind.