The Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday subtracted another piece from their pitching staff, trading relief pitcher Phil Maton to the New York Mets in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Maton, signed by the Rays last offseason, appeared in 40 games this year for Tampa Bay, going 1-2 with a 4.58 earned run average with two saves. He had been improving over the last month, allowing just one run over his last 11 appearances.
To take Maton’s spot on the active roster, pitcher Manuel Rodriguez has been recalled from Triple-A Durham.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
