Rays designate Tsutsugo for assignment

The Tampa Bay Rays designated utility player Yoshi Tsutsugo for assignment on Tuesday, the team announced.

The move ends a brief relationship between the Rays and the Japanese slugger after they agreed to a two-year, $12-million deal in December 2019.

Tsutsugo only managed a .187/.292/.336 slash line with eight home runs and 29 RBIs in 77 games for Tampa Bay.

The 29-year-old was a force in Japan before coming to the United States, hitting .281/.372/.511 with 205 home runs and 613 RBIs across 10 seasons in Japan's Central League.

Infielder Kevin Padlo was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.