Rangerfans.com

• P Nick Martinez placed on 15 day DL, retro to Jul 2
• P Phil Irwin recalled from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Sigh.

• P Roman Mendez (#55) recalled from AAA
• OF Jake Smolinski (#20) contract purchased from AAA
• OF Michael Choice optioned to AAA
• IF Donnie Murphy designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Michael Choice, who was super hot coming out of spring training has been anything but in the majors.  Finally had enough, I would imagine, and sent him down.  Donnie Murphy was always kind of a spare plug kind of player.  Didn’t dislike him, but he didn’t exactly set the world on fire.  Time to check out another couple of kids, both of which will be making their major league debuts when they play.

They also said we’ll have another pitcher starting tomorrow making a debut, so the carousel continues to turn.

• P Neftali Feliz recalled from AAA
• P Ben Rowen optioned to AAA
• P Joe Saunders placed on release waivers [ Link ]

NOTES: Neftali Feliz makes his return to the Rangers roster, and Ben Rowen was sent down.  Ben Rowen I rather liked, but Feliz, if he truly is healthy and ready can be a massive asset.   I think this is a lost season at this point, but still, Feliz has got to be better than most of the other optiosn we’ve been running out there lately.

Just in case anyone was holding on hope (snicker) that Saunders might pass through waivers and be outrighted..  The Rangers put him on release waivers today.  He’s done.

• P Miles Mikolas (#36) recalled from AAA
• P Joe Saunders designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead!

• IF Adam Rosales (#9) purchased from AAA
• IF Luis Sardinas optioned to AAA
• P Cory Burns claimed by Tampa Bay off waivers [ Link ]

NOTES: None of these guys are a real long term solution, but I suspect the team felt they were better off with a slightly more experienced player (Rosales) than Sardinas on the bench.

• 1B Carlos Pena (#21) purchased from AAA
• 1B/OF Brad Snyder designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Carlos Pena is back.  I’m not expecting much from him, but he can hardly be any worse than who was playing there after Moreland went down.  Thing is, can Pena take over the club lead in strikeouts given he’s missed so much of the season so far? I  think he can!

There’s a story on the MLB site about getting a “fresh start” with the Rangers this year.   I hope it goes better with his fresh starts with the A’s, the Tigers, the Red Sox, the Rays, the Cubs, the Astros, & the Royals.

• P Aaron Poreda recalled from AAA
• P Robbie Ross optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Robbie Ross pitched his way out of the starting rotation, and now has pitched himself off the roster.  He hasn’t been the same pitcher this year, that’s for sure.  Poreda is back for his third stint with the club.   Not sure what’s up with Ross, he was pretty darned good last year.  Not his year – but that’s par for the course for the entire team this year, I think.

• P Tanner Scheppers placed on 15 day DL
• P Ben Rowen (#39) recalled from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Seriously?  I’ve run out of ways to describe guys going to the DL at this point.

• 1B Mitch Moreland placed on 15 day DL
• 1B/OF Brad Snyder (#64) purchased from AAA
• P Matt Harrison moved from 15 day to 60 day DL [ Link ]

NOTES: Because why not?  Everyone else is hurt.  At this point, I’m expecting Ron Washington or Jon Daniels to go on the DL.

• P Tanner Scheppers activated from 15 day DL
• P Aaron Poreda optioned to AAA
• OF Jim Adduci sent on rehab assignment at AAA [ Link ]

NOTE: Scheppers is back from his DL stint.  I really hope his awful pitching early in the season really was just from him being hurt, as he was doing well until the season started.

Poreda becomes this year’s up and down guy.  Up and down all the time.  :)