It's a strong signal that they've lost confidence in what was once a top prospect in the system
The Tampa Bay Rays have designated shortstop Hak-ju Lee for assignment, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, to make room for catcher Luke Maile on the 40-man roster.
We knew that a roster move was coming, but I don't think many predicted that this would be it. Hak-Ju Lee was ranked as the number-two prospect in the Tampa Bay system in 2011, the number-four prospect in 2012, and the number-two prospect again in 2013, but he tore ligaments in his knee early in the 2013 season (while being slid into at second base) and has never been the same player since.