Word came on Tuesday afternoon that the Arizona Diamondbacks had designated Ryan Roberts for assignment. News then arose of a deal in the works, and that's exactly what transpired this evening. The D-backs have trade Roberts to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for second baseman Tyler Bortnick. The official MLB Twitter feed has confirmed the news.
It has been quite the year for Roberts. He was a key member of the 2011 NL West championship team, ranking among the team leaders in home runs (19), steals (18) and runs batted in (65). Despite this success, Roberts has struggled mightily this season and was a member of a struggling (and crowded) infield. In 2012, he's batted just .250 with an OPS of .663.
Bortnick, 25, has spent the last three seasons with the Rays and their minor league system. He is currently in Double-A ball, hitting .252/.349/.384. He has 19 steals and is regarded as an average defender. As for his career projections, it looks like the D-backs have acquired a guy capable of being a utility player down the road.
For more on the D-backs, check out AZ Snake Pit.