ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have designated C.J. Cron for assignment after the slugger hit 30 home runs with an .816 OPS last season.
Cron batted .253, slugged .493 and drove in 74 runs in his first season with Tampa Bay, but the Rays cut the 28-year-old Tuesday before he entered his second season of arbitration eligibility. He made $2.3 million last season while splitting time between first base and designated hitter.
Tampa Bay added five players to its 40-man roster: left-handers Kyle Bird and Brock Burke, right-hander Ian Gibaut, and outfielders Joe McCarthy and Jesus Sanchez. Right-hander Oliver Drake and left-hander Hoby Milner were also designated for assignment, and right-hander Jose Mujica was outrighted to the minor leagues and removed from the 40-man roster.