ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays added an experienced hitter to their outfield group on Monday, selecting the contract of outfielder Austin Slater from Triple-A Durham before their series opener against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
The Rays signed the 33-year-old Slater, who has played parts of 10 seasons in the Majors, to a Minor League deal on May 27 after he was designated for assignment by the Mets eight days earlier. In six games for Durham, the right-handed-hitting Slater went 8-for-23 with a home run, five doubles, five walks and six strikeouts.
He played right field only for Durham, but he has experience in all three outfield spots.
To make room for Slater on their active roster, the Rays optioned infielder Oliver Dunn to Triple-A. They cleared a spot for Slater on their full 40-man roster by transferring right-hander Jonathan Heasley (right elbow stress reaction) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
Slater has been with four teams since the start of Spring Training, going from the Tigers to the Mets to the Marlins before settling with the Rays. He is a career .247/.335/.380 hitter in the Majors, with a .263/.352/.420 slash line against left-handed pitchers.
The Rays’ outfield depth has been reduced by recent injuries, with the right-field platoon of Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca both sidelined. Left fielder Chandler Simpson has also been limited lately due to a bruised left thumb. The Rays could use Slater in right field with the left-handed-hitting Victor Mesa Jr. and the righty-hitting Ryan Vilade, but he started Monday’s game in left field, batting second.