Without a left-hander in the bullpen since placing Xavier Cedeno on the disabled back in April, the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday promoted reliever Jose Alvarado from Double-A Montgomery and in a corresponding move optioned Chih-Wei Hu back to Triple-A Durham.
The need for a left-hander was becoming costly for the Rays in terms of over-working Danny Farquhar, as he had been used as a “pseudo” lefty since Cedeno hit the disabled list and though he was capable of taking on the role, it was becoming apparent that a true left-hander was needed.