Tampa Bay Rays closer Troy Percival went on the 15-day disabled list despite a clean MRI today. Infielder Willy Aybar was activated from the DL since he was eligible to come off and healthy.
The 38-year-old Percival has converted 14 of 16 save opportunities and is 1-0 with a 2.95 ERA leaving big shoes to fill for his replacement. Manager Joe Maddon said that he has three options out of the bullpen - Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler and Trever Miller. Wheeler closed Wednesday's game after Percival left with his hamstring injury.
Aybar played in just seven games before landing on the disabled list earlier this season. He was 7-for-24 with a .292 average and one home run.
The Rays are expected to make a move on Friday to bring up another reliever but with an off day on Thursday were in no rush to finalize a move.
Kansas City Royals designated hitter and first baseman Billy Butler was sent down to Triple-A Omaha today in favor of infielder Mike Aviles who has been tearing it up for Omaha.
Butler's demotion comes on the heels of a 10-game losing streak and the 22-year-old is hitting .263 with just one home run and 18 RBI. He goes to the Minor League with a five game hitting streak but all five hits were singles and during the streak Butler hit .278.
Aviles, 27, gives the Royals some depth at second base and shortstop. Mark Grudzielanek missed the past two games with a sore back and Tony Pena Jr. is struggling at shortstop. Aviles was in his sixth Minor League season and third with Triple-A Omaha since being selected in the seventh round of the 2003 draft by Kansas City.
Aviles Minor League numbers have been impressive - .338 BA, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and 1.003 OPS. He also hit .296 with 17 home runs in 133 games last season and had a successful stint in Venezuelan winter ball.
After six starts for Cincinnati, Matt Belisle was removed from the starting rotation and sent down to Triple-A Louisville to be converted back to a reliever. The Reds moved Josh Fogg back to the rotation and activated 40-year-old Kent Mercker from the disabled list to take Belisle's spot.
In Belisle's six starts, he produced a 1-4 record with a 7.28 ERA. Belisle was hoping to build on his 2007 campaign where he notched 30 starts and went 8-9 with a 5.32 ERA after spending 2003, 2005 and 2006 in the bullpen. In his Major League career, Belisle made 43 starts and 89 relief appearances.
This is Fogg's second attempt to stick in the starting rotation this season. Fogg made three starts in April with a 1-2 record and 13.09 ERA. Since going to the bullpen in the long reliever role, Fogg has been similarly unimpressive in seven appearances. In 14 innings, Fogg produced a 5.79 ERA out of the bullpen. Manager Dusty Baker named Fogg the starting pitcher for Saturday's game.
Mercker made 13 appearances before his trip to the DL on May 9 and posted a 3.86 ERA.
As expected, Kevin Millwood was activated from the DL to clear the way for his return to the starting rotation on Friday night against Oakland. Texas made a number of other moves on Thursday recalling infielder Travis Metcalf from Triple-A Oklahoma. To make room for Millwood and Metcalf, pitcher Kameron Loe and infielder German Duran were optioned to Oklahoma and Franklyn German cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma and has 72 hours to refuse the assignment.
Millwood was 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA in 9 starts before straining his right groin on May 10 against the same team he returns against.
Metcalf, 25, was 0-for-1 in his six day stay in the Major League earlier this season and hit .255 in 57 games in his rookie season with the Rangers last season.
Loe made just two relief appearances in his eight days with the Rangers and was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.
Duran played 26 games in his first Major League experience since joining the club on April 17th. He hit just .193 with a home run and 4 RBI.
The Oakland Athletics made it official today - Frank Thomas was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The news was not all bad, though, as Eric Chavez returned from the 60-day disabled list after three offseason back surgeries in 10 weeks. To make room on the 40-man roster, Jeff Fiorentino was designated for assignment.
Chavez's 227 career home runs and .269 career average are expected to slide into Thomas' designated hitter role while he is on the mend. In his rehab assignment with Sacramento, Chavez hit .367 in nine games with 2 homers.