Two can play at that game, the Tampa Bay Rays said.
After watching the Yankees make a pair of moves Friday — orchestrating trades for Austin Kearns and likely Lance Berkman — the Rays traded for Arizona reliever Chad Qualls on Saturday morning for a player to be named, MLBtraderumors.com reports.
MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert first reported the agreement.
The Rays trail the Yankees by a game in the AL East and are loading up the roster for a stretch run.
Qualls has struggled this year, much like the Diamondbacks. He was stripped of his closer duties in June and has blown four saves while posting an 8.29 ERA in 38 innings of relief. He has allowed five home runs in his 43 appearances, the same amount of long balls as all of last year.
Before this season, though, Qualls was a quality bullpen arm. He served as the closer in 2009, recording 24 saves and a 3.63 ERA, and was a solid setup man in 2008, tallying 22 holds and nine saves with a 2.81 ERA.
The Rays will pay the entire $1.48 million remaining on his contract.
