ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have removed designated hitter/outfielder Rocco Baldelli from their playoff roster and added Willy Aybar.
The move was announced before the AL East champions faced the Texas Rangers in Game 2 of their first-round series Thursday.
Baldelli went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against Cliff Lee in Game 1. His career has been derailed by a string of injuries and a condition that causes muscle fatigue.
Manager Joe Maddon says “cramping … the same things that’s bothered him to this point” surfaced again during Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Rangers. The Rays announced the 29-year-old was removed because of “left leg fatigue,” which is a symptom of mitichondrial disorder.
