The Rays will designate outfielder Jaff Decker for assignment and activate fellow outfielder Brandon Guyer from the 15-day disabled list, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter).
Decker, 26, was brought up from Triple-A earlier this season due largely to a deluge of injuries incurred by Rays outfielders — Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza and Mikie Mahtook were all on the disabled list alongside Guyer — and received 32 plate appearances with Tampa Bay. The former No. 42 overall pick (Padres, 2008) batted .138/.219/.138 in that brief sample. Decker has been a considerably better performer than that at the Triple-A level, where he owns a .264/.365/.396 batting line in 1321 plate appearances. That production has never carried over to the Majors, though, where Decker is a career .159/.267/.227 batter in 104 trips to the dish.
The flailing Rays should be quite pleased to get Guyer back into their lineup, as the 30-year-old was in the midst of a career year before landing on the DL earlier this month with a hamstring strain. In 168 PAs this season, Guyer is batting .271/.365/.472 with six homers and 11 doubles.
Jaff has some tools, just can’t quite translate them in MLB. Another chance soon I’m guessing.
Decker seems like someone the A’s may take a look at.