Rays' All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe has been placed on the injured list due to a left ankle/foot tendonitis. The team acquired outfielder Stuart Fairchild from the Braves in exchange for cash considerations.

Rays' All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe is sidelined again at a crucial moment in the season, as he was placed on the 10-day injured list today due to left ankle/foot tendonitis.

The Rays acquired outfielder Stuart Fairchild from the Braves through cash compensation to fill Lowe's vacancy. To create a spot on the 40-man roster, the team moved reliever Manuel Rodríguez (right forearm strain) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day list.

After experiencing symptoms deemed by the team as plantar fasciitis following Saturday's game, Lowe had hoped to avoid the injured list. This injury forced him to miss Sunday’s game against the Orioles and he continued to be sidelined on Monday and Tuesday. The Rays' infield depth was further strained when Korean shortstop Kim Ha-seong exited Tuesday's 3-8 loss to the White Sox due to lower back tightness.

Lowe reported no improvement this morning, still feeling pain in his foot while moving around at home. Further tests confirmed peroneal tendonitis with fluid accumulation in the foot, and he was advised to rest and treat it. "I wish I could wake up tomorrow and tell trainer Joe Benge, 'See! I told you I’d be ready,'" Lowe said, "but for the long-term health of the team this is the right decision. We still plan to give our all when we return."

In the last week before the All-Star Game, Lowe missed games due to left oblique tightness. The team placed him on the 10-day list before the classic, marking the second time in his career he missed the All-Star Game due to injury. Decision-makers at that time believed this move would benefit him in the long run.

However, just five days into the second half of the season, Lowe is back on the injured list (effective retroactively to Sunday). He stated he was unsure of the cause of the unknown injury but confirmed it affected his ability to run and defend fully. Lowe mentioned he might recover suddenly tomorrow, allowing ample time to adjust his condition. Manager Kevin Cash hopes for a brief recovery, aiming for his return in the final two months of the season.

"He resisted going on the list, and I understand and appreciate that attitude, but he also knows he’s not back to form," Cash admitted. "Missing the Red Sox series and now taking a few more games off—our lineup is completely different without Brandon Lowe. We need to take the right approach to help him return as soon as possible."

Fairchild was designated for assignment by the Braves before joining the Rays the next day. The 29-year-old outfielder has played 28 games for Atlanta this season, with a batting line of .216/.273/.333 in 55 plate appearances, primarily serving as a pinch runner or defensive substitute.

Right-handed Fairchild can play all three outfield positions and has a career batting average of .223/.305/.384 over five seasons in the majors (with the Diamondbacks, Mariners, Giants, Reds, and Braves). He will wear number 20 while playing for Tampa Bay.

Currently, the Rays' outfield consists of Jake Mangum (left field), Chandler Simpson (center field), and Josh Lowe (right field), with Christopher Morel occasionally starting in left field. Utility infielder José Caballero sometimes fills in right field. Fairchild is expected to serve as a substitute against left-handed pitchers and take on pinch-running and defensive duties.

Cash revealed that Kim's injury news is "optimistic." He did not play today and may continue to rest tomorrow, but the team hopes he will return for Saturday’s game against the Reds to kick off a seven-game road trip. If Kim only misses a few days, Caballero and Taylor Walls can cover second base during Lowe's absence. Walls and Caballero split duties at shortstop and second base on Wednesday, with all three capable of handling these positions.

The severity of Kim's injury will determine how to handle Lowe's absence. Meanwhile, Rodríguez's injury confirms what baseball operations president Erik Neander stated after the All-Star Game: this key right-handed pitcher "won't be back anytime soon." After halting his rehab assignment, the Rays are assessing his forearm and elbow injuries, and Cash confirmed he will be out for "an extended period."