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Rays acquire Cron from Angels, DFA All-Star Dickerson

Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

In a surprising move, the Tampa Bay Rays announced Saturday that they acquired first baseman C.J. Cron from the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named later, and designated Corey Dickerson for assignment.

While the 28-year-old Cron provides the Rays with a starting first baseman to replace free agent Logan Morrison, removing Dickerson - who started at DH for the American League All-Star team in 2017 - comes as a shock.

Dickerson was owed $5.95 million this season, so the move will save Tampa money, with Cron set to earn $2.3 million in 2018, but it comes at the expense of the .282/.325/.490 slash line and 27 home runs he put up last year.

He did struggle in the second half, though, posting a .690 OPS compared to his .903 OPS before the All-Star break.

Rays general manager Erik Neander told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he doesn't have a deal in place for Dickerson as of yet, but that could change.

"We've had enough conversations where we felt this was best way to get things resolved for him and for us," Neander said.

Cron became expendable for the Angels with Albert Pujols expected to play more first base this season - allowing Shohei Ohtani more opportunities to DH - and with the return of Luis Valbuena, who missed time last season due to injury.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said the trade was motivated by Cron's inability to play multiple positions and his lack of minor-league options, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Cron hit .248/.305/.437 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs last season and is an above-average defender at first base, where he posted a plus-3 in defensive runs saved in 2017.

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