ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays signed veteran infielder Jorge Mateo to a Major League contract and optioned 23-year-old Carson Williams to Triple-A Durham, the club announced Thursday, seeking a more experienced replacement for injured utility man Ben Williamson with only seven weeks left in the regular season.
Williams had been called up when Williamson landed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, but the young infielder hit just .108 with a .370 OPS in 16 games. Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters last Friday that Williamson is “going to miss some significant time,” raising the possibility he could be sidelined the rest of the way.
Mateo, 31, will wear No. 9 and step into the same role Williamson held — starting at second base against left-handed pitchers, spelling Taylor Walls at shortstop and platooning at second with Richie Palacios. The Braves released him Sunday after designating him for assignment last week. Because Atlanta released him, Tampa Bay is only responsible for paying a prorated portion of the league-minimum salary.
A career .223/.268/.365 hitter, Mateo brings 555 games of Major League experience across parts of seven seasons, most of them with the Orioles from 2021-25. He has 34 homers, 132 RBIs and 116 stolen bases in his career. His best season came in 2022, when he stole 35 bases, hit 13 homers and totaled 3.7 Wins Above Replacement for Baltimore. He should find familiar faces in the Tampa Bay clubhouse — former Orioles Cedric Mullins, Bryan Baker and Tyler Wells are already on the roster, along with senior advisor Brandon Hyde, his former manager.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated right-hander Trevor Martin for assignment. Tampa Bay also recalled right-hander Jesse Scholtens from Triple-A and optioned righty Michael Grove. Scholtens, 32, is an option to start or pitch in a bulk-inning role Friday. He posted a 3.82 ERA in 37 2/3 innings over nine outings from April 8-May 25 earlier this season before a right wrist sprain sent him to the injured list. After returning to Durham, he recorded a 3.86 ERA with 17 strikeouts and three walks in four starts.
The Rays open a series against the Orioles on Friday at Tropicana Field.