Rays designate Joey Butler for assignment

The Tampa Bay Rays made room on their 40-man roster Thursday, designating outfielder Joey Butler for assignment one day after the club acquired backstop Hank Conger from the Houston Astros.

The 29-year-old Butler opened 2015 with the Triple-A Durham Bulls before being called up to the Rays in May, where he slashed a respectable .276/.326/.416 and hit eight homers with the major-league club.

However, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports the team will attempt to re-sign Butler to a minor-league contract should no other club make a move for the outfielder.