Rays pick up catcher, DFA pitcher

Catcher Gregg Zaun is headed from the Baltimore Orioles to the Rays in exchange for a player to be named. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Rays have designated Durham pitcher John Meloan for assignment. They'll announce a 25-man roster move after tonight's game at Seattle.

Zaun, 38, is a 15-year major-league veteran who was hitting .244 in 56 games for the Orioles. Meloan, who came to the Rays from Cleveland in a trade just more than a month ago, has a 3.38 ERA in 10 games with the Bulls.

4:10: Rays general manager Andrew Friedman just had a conference call with interested media. He wouldn't detail the upcoming roster move to activate Zaun, only that it would come after tonight's game. The Rays already have two catchers on their major-league roster.

"We're excited to add Gregg," he said. "He has a lot of experience playing in the American League East. He's been a Ray killer the last couple of years, so it will be good to get him on our side."

Zaun has a .256 average in 57 games against Tampa Bay with eight home runs (the most against any team) and 35 RBIs (second to 39 against Boston).

The Rays and Orioles "had some conversations" about Zaun before last week's non-waiver trade deadline," Friedman said. "Through the waiver process, it lined up where we had accelerated discussions with Baltimore."