Rays designate RHP Grant Balfour for assignment

The Tampa Bay Rays designated righthander Grant Balfour for assignment on Saturday.

The Tampa Bay Rays designated righthander Grant Balfour for assignment on Saturday and promoted righthander Brandon Gomes to the active roster from Triple A Durham.

Balfour, 37, had not allowed a run in 3 2/3 innings entering Saturday's game against the New York Yankees, but walked three batters and allowed a grand slam in 2/3 of an inning in the Rays' 9–0 loss at Tropicana Field.

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Balfour signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Rays prior to last season and was due $7 million this season. He appeared in 65 games in 2014, going 2–6 with a 4.91 ERA, 57 strikeouts and 41 walks.

Balfour was an All-Star in 2013 with the Oakland Athletics, posting a 2.59 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 27 walks over 62 2/3 innings.

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Saturday's loss dropped the Rays to 6–6, a game and a half behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

- Mike Fiammetta