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Texas Rangers catcher Geovany Soto, who has been on the disabled list all season due to knee surgery, is starting a rehab assignment on Friday, per Jeff Wilson on Twitter:
Geovany Soto expects to start a rehab assignment Friday with Triple A Round Rock and be ready for July 18 game at Toronto.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) June 30, 2014
That July 18 game is the first game after the All Star Break. The Rangers are currently rolling with Chris Gimenez and Robinson Chirinos at catcher, and would have an interesting decision to make in regards to their roster once Soto returns. Chirinos has options and Gimenez doesn't, which means sending Gimenez down would require him to clear waivers (and accept an outright assignment), whereas sending Chirinos down wouldn't risk him being lost from the organization. The Rangers could, alternatively, keep three catchers on the roster, since it isn't like their bench is a paragon of strength right now anyway.