NEW YORK (AP) -- Wanting to have a long reliever in the bullpen after a pair of extra-inning games, the Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of left-hander Everett Teaford from Durham of the Triple-A International League.
Left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser was optioned to the Bulls before Saturday's game against the New York Yankees. To clear a spot on the Rays' 40-man roster, the first baseman-outfielder Marc Krauss was designated for assignment.
Riefenhauser was the only Rays reliever not to appear in Thursday's 5-4, 10-inning defeat against Cleveland or Friday's 7-5, 12-inning loss to the Yankees. He likely would have been limited to 35-40 pitches out of the bullpen.
Teaford had been scheduled to start Saturday against Norfolk.
"We're probably in a spot where we could use those 90, 100 pitches for today if we got in a bind somewhere, so he was our best option," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "Kind of unfortunate for Reif."
Kraus was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on June 25.
