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| 20th November, 2007 - 6:36 pm | RealGM Staff Report - The Tampa Bay Rays added four minor league players to the 40-man roster today, designated two players for assignment, and traded outfielder Chris Snelling to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. The transactions expand the Rays' 40-man roster to its full capacity.
Catcher John Jaso, outfielders Fernando Perez and Jason Pridie, and left-handed pitcher James Houser were each added to the 40-man roster.
To make room on the roster, the Rays designated right-handed pitcher Brian Stokes and left-handed pitcher Jon Switzer for assignment. The club has 10 days to trade, release, or outright each pitcher. Stokes, 28, compiled a 2-7 record and a 7.07 ERA in 59 appearances for the Rays this year. Switzer, also 28, went 0-2 with an 8.05 ERA in 21 outings in 2007. He made 68 appearances during parts of four seasons with the Rays, amassing a 2-4 record with a 6.11 ERA.
Jaso, 24, spent the 2007 campaign with Double-A Montgomery and set career highs with a .316 batting average, 71 RBI, 59 walks, and a .408 on-base percentage. He ranked second in the Southern League and third in the Rays' organization in hitting this year and was honored by Baseball America as a Double-A All-Star. The 12th-round selection in 2003 out of Southwestern College has hit .300 or better in each of the past four seasons.
The switch-hitting Perez, 24, is a product of Columbia University (NY) and was acquired in the seventh round of the 2004 June Draft. He joined Jaso on the 2007 Baseball America Double-A All-Star team after hitting .308 with 32 steals, a .423 on-base percentage and 84 runs for Montgomery. Perez has stolen 146 bases in four minor league seasons and was named his team’s player of the year in both 2005 for Southwest Michigan and 2006 for Visalia.
Pridie, 24, split the year between Montgomery and Triple-A Durham and was named the 20th-best prospect in the International League after the season by Baseball America. The left-handed batter combined to hit .303 with 14 home runs, 26 stolen bases, 32 doubles and 11 triples. He was a second-round selection in the 2002 June Draft.
A second-round draft pick in 2003 out of Sarasota (Fla.) High School, Houser went 5-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 20 starts for Montgomery this season. In 103.2 innings, the southpaw struck out 90 batters, yielded 88 hits and 39 walks, and held opponents to a .230 batting average. Houser owns a career record of 28-21 with a 3.84 ERA over five minor league seasons and was Southwest Michigan’s Pitcher of the Year in 2005.
Snelling, 26, had been claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics on October 25. Over parts of four seasons playing for Washington, Oakland, and Seattle, the Australian has a career .240 batting average in 89 games.
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