PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Eddie Gamboa was designated for assignment Tuesday morning. By evening, the Rays had traded the knuckleballer to the Rangers for cash or a player to be named.
The Rays had to create space on the 40-man roster after they signed Nathan Eovaldi, resulting in the decision to DFA Gamboa.
Gamboa made seven appearances for the Rays in 2016 after his Sept. 1 selection from Triple-A Durham. That gave the right-hander his second career Major League stint, following two days with Baltimore in April 2015 during which he did not pitch.
He made his Major League debut in the eighth inning on Sept. 2 against the Blue Jays. Gamboa went 0-2 with a 1.35 ERA in seven games for the Rays after going 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 27 games (12 starts) for Triple-A Durham in 2016.