Creativity is what the Tampa Bay Rays did in order to open up spots on their 40-man roster and they began by trading Richie Shaffer and Taylor Motter to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for three minor-leaguers. They also designated Steve Geltz for assignment and released John Lamb who they acquired earlier this month from the Cincinnati Reds.
With the roster moves, the Tampa Bay Rays added eight prospects to their 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft: INF Willy Adames, LHP Jose Alvarado, RHP Chih-Wei Hu, INF Daniel Robertson, RHP Austin Pruitt, RHP Jaime Schultz, RHP Ryne Stanek, and RHP Hunter Wood.