Diamondbacks designate Ryan Roberts for assignment

The Ryan Roberts story took a turn for the disappointing
in 2012, and now it appears the Arizona Diamondbacks
chapter is coming to a close.

The Diamondbacks designated the infielder for assignment
Tuesday in order to make room for John McDonald, who has
been reinstated from the 15-day disabled list.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise to Roberts.

“Sometimes I thought it would (happen), sometimes I
thought it wouldn’t, but it’s part of the game so it is
what it is,” he said.

The D-backs now have 10 days to either trade or release
Roberts, and according to Roberts himself, a deal is
nearing completion.

“I was told to say that something’s close, it’s on the
one-yard line,” he said. “That’s what it is right now.
I’ll take my talents somewhere.”

There were reports late Monday that the Tampa Bay Rays had interest in Roberts,
but it’s unclear if that is where he’ll be heading.

Roberts had a career year last season, when he hit 19 home
runs for the NL West champion D-backs, but D-backs GM
Kevin Towers admitted there wasn’t much belief he’d be
able to repeat those numbers this year.

“We knew going in this year it would probably be highly
unlikely that he was able to repeat that, but I guess
there was hope,” GM Kevin Towers said of Roberts having
another successful season.

Their suspicions proved to be correct, as Roberts has
struggled
to the tune of a .252 average with six home runs and 33
RBI this year.

But no matter where he goes from here, Roberts knows this
was the place where he established himself in the major
leagues, and he said it’s something he won’t forget.

“I’ll definitely miss my teammates, I’ll definitely miss
the fans that supported me when things were good and when
things were bad,” he said.

McDonald, who was placed on the disabled list with a
strained left oblique on July 2, is hitting .267 with four
home runs and 12 RBI in 33 games for Arizona this season.

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