INF/OF Jose Tabata was released from the Dodgers' 40-man roster on Saturday. The veteran had been playing at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he was hitting just .244. Tabata had a guaranteed $4.5 million contract for this season.

INF/OF Jose Tabata, who had been playing at Triple-A Oklahoma City, was released off the 40-man roster. Tabata, who had been hitting .244 in the minors this season, had a guaranteed $4.5 million contract for 2016.

Tabata was traded to the Dodgers on Friday for Mike Morse and cash considerations.

The 26-year-old Tabata will be afforded a much-needed change of scenery with the trade, but his path to major-league playing time is about as blocked as blocked gets. Tabata hit .291 with a .364 OBP in 44 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, but slugged just .345 and stole two bases in 44 games.

The Pirates traded Tabata to the Dodgers on Friday for Mike Morse and cash considerations, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

It's hard to imagine Tabata will be a candidate even for a major league callup anytime in the near future, given the Dodgers' outfield depth. However, he will at least provide the club with a quality organizational piece. Tabata has hit .290/.355/.380 in parts of seven seasons at the Triple-A level.

Tabata missed the last eight Triple-A games while attending to personal business in Venezuela, according to GM Neal Huntington.

Huntington said that Tabata has returned to Indianapolis but was not in the lineup Saturday due to "manager discretion." The Bucs could recall him in the next week or so if recently recalled outfielder, Jaff Decker, doesn't play well.

Tabata was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Tabata batted .289 with four RBI during his 27 game stint with the Pirates this season, but now he will be with their Triple-A affiliate for the time being. Even if he does return to the big league club this season, it won't likely be in a fantasy relevant role.

Tabata cleared waivers and will be designated to Triple-A, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports.

This was expected for Tabata, who hit .289 with four RBI in 27 games with Pittsburgh. Tabata has struggled to stay in the majors for the past couple years, and he will now head back to Triple-A, where he is boasting a batting average of .352 in 28 games this season.

Tabata was designated for assignment Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

The 26-year-old, who's seen time at all three outfield spots this season, is hitting .289 with four RBI in 38 at-bats. He'll likely land back in Triple-A, where he holds a .352 average in 28 games on the year.

Tabata went 2-for-5 with an RBI Monday against the White Sox.

While making just his fourth start of the year, Tabata played instead of fellow bench guy Corey Hart. As a result, his roster spot -- widely thought to be the 25th man -- may be more secure than Hart's. Whatever the case, Tabata has done better than expected in a very limited capacity.

Tabata is batting .417 (15-for-36) against Wednesday starter Kyle Lohse.

The Pirates haven't presented their lineup for Wednesday, but Tabata makes for a good choice if he plays. The outfielder has six hits (all singles) in 22 at-bats since his recall from Triple-A.

Tabata connected for a pinch-hit single in his season debut Tuesday against the Twins.

Fantasy owners might expect more singles and a batting average around .270 if Tabata finds his way into the starting lineup -- something which could happen given Gregory Polanco's struggles. The Pirates have unsuccessfully tried to move his salary -- a combined $8.75 million due in the next two seasons -- and could boost Tabata's playing time to help improve his stock.

Tabata was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, MLB.com's Tom Singer reports.

Tabata is having a strong season for Triple-A Indianapolis, sporting a .352/.422/.396 triple-slash line through 28 games, on the strength of an 8:11 K:BB ratio. Still, he offers little in the way of power, and he'll likely just provide the Pirates with outfield depth and speed off the bench.

Tabata was reassigned to the Pirates' minor-league camp Friday, MLB.com's Tom Singer reports.

As a non-roster player, Tabata didn't have very realistic chances of sticking with the Pirates as a reserve outfielder. Though the speed he showed in the minors once gave hope that Tabata would settle into an everyday role in the majors, the Pirates likely aren't counting on him as anything more than organizational depth at this point.

Tabata (ankle) took part in Friday's spring training game, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.

Tabata left the field on a cart earlier this week and was diagnosed with an ankle bruise. He was seen walking with a limp Thursday but his condition has apparently improved, as he's healthy enough to return to game action.

A day after getting hit by a pitch, Tabata (ankle) walked with a pronounced limp Thursday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Initially, it appeared as though the outfielder avoided serious injury. It's difficult to say how much time Tabata might miss, but the team will likely keep him out of action for more than a couple days.

X-Rays on Tabata (ankle) have come back negative, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Tabata left Wednesday's game with what was originally described as lower body soreness, something that was likely the effect of him fouling a ball off his ankle. He shouldn't be poised for an extended absence, but if he has to miss a few days, the team's depth at outfield will be temporarily hampered.

Tabata left Wednesday's game with lower-body soreness, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Travis Sawchik reports.

Tabata was carted back to the clubhouse after fouling a ball off the inside of his left ankle in Wednesday's spring training game. Andrew Lambo seems to be well-positioned to win the fourth outfielder job out of camp, which would send Tabata to Triple-A to start the season.

Tabata, who has just 17 career homers in 1724 career plate appearances, worked on a power stroke in the Mexican League over the winter, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Manager Clint Hurdle said that it will take time for Tabata -- who spoke with Marlon Byrd about the change in his swing -- to feel comfortable with his new approach. "We've talked to Jose about putting more leverage in his swing," Hurdle said. "He worked very hard with that through the winter. He's shown a liking for it." Tabata has mostly struggled since his rookie season in 2010, but since he's already signed for the next two seasons to a guaranteed contract Pittsburgh is looking to get something out of its investment. Tabata is not a lock to make the Bucs out of spring training.

Tabata has accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Tabata was designated for assignment by the Pirates last week, but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The two years remaining on his contract likely had a lot to do with other teams passing on the 26-year-old, who hit .282/.314/.333 with seven extra-base hits and one stolen base in 80 games with the big club this season.

The Pirates designated Tabata for assignment Friday.

Tabata hit .282 in 80 games with the big club this season, but it was a shallow average, as just seven of his 49 hits went for extra bases and he walked all of seven times in 186 plate appearances. Moreover, he stole just one base in three attempts with the big club, and was also 1-for-3 on the basepaths in 39 games at Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates were high enough on Tabata in 2011 to ink him to a six-year extension, but three years later and his luster has all but worn off, though another team may be inclined to take a flier on the 26-year-old.