PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Rays designated infielder Ryan Schimpf for assignment on Saturday with the hope that he would clear waivers and return to the team.
On Monday, the Rays traded Schimpf to Atlanta for a player to be named or cash.
Schimpf was DFA'd to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Carlos Gomez, whose free-agent signing was finalized on Saturday.
Schimpf, 29, was acquired from San Diego in December in exchange for Minor League infielder Deion Tansel. He began last season as the Padres' starting third baseman and hit .158/.284/.424 with 14 home runs and 25 RBIs in 53 games.
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Schimpf was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on June 9, and he remained there through the end of the season. The infielder has spent parts of the last two seasons in the Majors, batting .195 with 34 home runs and 76 RBIs in 142 games. In his career, 67.4 percent of his hits have gone for extra bases, the highest ratio in the Majors over that span (minimum 500 plate appearances).