TORONTO (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays placed first baseman Carlos Pena on the 15-day disabled list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 1, and recalled right-hander Dale Thayer from Triple-A Durham.
Pena has not played since Saturday, when he felt something pop in his right foot as he ran the bases. Pena had considered playing through the injury, a slightly torn ligament, but the Rays talked him into taking the extra rest to come back at full strength, giving their bullpen a boost in the interim.
The tear cannot be repaired with surgery, and is expected to heal on its own.
Pena, who is batting .212 with 23 homers and 68 RBIs, is eligible to come off the DL on Aug. 16, when the Rays open a three game series at home against Texas.
Thayer was 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 37 games at Triple-A. He pitched in 11 games for the Rays last season and earned one save.
