Rays add right-handed bat, call up veteran outfielder Austin Slater
New Rays outfielder Austin Slater has gotten around lately.
After spending most of the first 7 ½ seasons of his major-league career with the Giants, Slater since July 2024 has played for seven teams - eight if you include his stint this spring with the Tigers.
That includes four teams this season after he made his Rays debut on Monday, following a call up from Triple-A Durham, to add a proven right-handed bat to the lineup as they face three straight Boston lefty starters. And he had an impact, going 1-for-3 and scoring the eventual winning run.
"I think by the end of the year I'm going to know the whole league if I keep this pace up," Slater, 33, said. "But, hopefully, this is the last stop and I can help contribute to a playoff run and keep things rolling here."
The Rays signed Slater to a minor-league contract on May 27 and suggested some slight changes - to be more direct to the ball with his swing, more balanced in his stance, more athletic overall and move more towards the pitcher.
The small sample results were impressive - a .348 average (8-for-23) with five doubles and a 1.160 OPS that included a .464 on-base percentage.
"I'm excited about the swing changes I made," he said. "I was working on a lot of different things down there, trying to get back to things I've done well in the past."
Between Slater's overall career numbers (.247 average, .715 OPS), his success against lefties (.263, .772), and experience and ability to play all three outfield spots, the Rays considered him a good fit.
Especially as they have been down a right-handed-hitting outfielder since Jonny DeLuca strained his right hamstring on May 2 (he is slated to start a rehab assignment Friday).
"(Slater) has been a good major-league player for quite some time. We've seen him in the other dugout and on the field against us," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I think his skill set right now really fits us well. He's going to be in there a bunch against left-handed pitching. ... A nice veteran at-bat approach to add to our lineup right now."
To make room for Slater on the active roster, the Rays sent lefty-swinging infielder Oliver Dunn to Durham. To create space on the 40-man roster, they moved right-hander Jon Heasley from the 15- to the 60-day injured list.
Slater, a Jacksonville native and resident, said he crossed paths with several of his new Rays teammates over the years, including a 2015 Arizona Fall League stint with Yandy Diaz.
After starting with the Giants in 2017, Slater was traded in 2024 to the Reds and Orioles. He began 2025 with the White Sox, then was traded to the Yankees.
He went to spring camp this year with the Tigers and got released. He signed with the Marlins, played 12 games and got designated for assignment. He signed with the Mets, played nine games and got designated for assignment, then signed with the Rays.
Medical matters: Simpson, DeLuca, more
Outfielder Chandler Simpson (sore left thumb) was out of the lineup for a third straight game but pinch-ran and played an inning in leftfield. ... DeLuca would seem likely to need at least a week of rehab games at Durham. ... He and infielder Gavin Lux (left shoulder) will face reliever Craig Kimbrel (right wrist) in live batting practice Tuesday. Kimbrel, who Cash said "is feeling really well," could return on or near his Friday eligibility date. ... Cash said there was "no update" on reliever Edwin Uceta (right shoulder), who remains idled after a recent setback. Among other relievers, Michael Grove (March 2025 shoulder surgery) is throwing in rehab games at Durham, Jesse Scholtens (right wrist) will throw live batting practice Thursday and Manny Rodriguez (August 2025 elbow surgery) is throwing off the mound but not yet to hitters.
Miscellany
The Rays are now 10-0 at home vs. AL East teams, their longest such intradivisional win streak at any point of a season. ... Diaz's leadoff homer was the 25th of his career and fourth this season. It was the 28th in team history on the first pitch the Rays saw, seven by Diaz. He also extended his on-base streak to 22 games, matching the third longest of his career. ... Bucs top draft pick Rueben Bain Jr. threw out a ceremonial first pitch. ... Right-hander Michael Forret, acquired from Baltimore in the Shane Baz deal, was promoted to Durham after going 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Montgomery. He starts Tuesday for the Bulls.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM.