clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Claudio to the disabled list, Mendez DFA'd to open up 40 man roster spots

To open up 40 man roster spots for today's callups, the Rangers have put Alex Claudio on the 60 day d.l. and have designated Roman Mendez for assignment

By Adam J. Morris
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers have announced that lefthanded pitcher Alex Claudio has been recalled from AAA Round Rock and placed on the 60 day disabled list with a left groin strain, and righthanded pitcher Roman Mendez has been designated for assignment.

These two moves open up 40 man roster spots for Drew Stubbs and Ross Ohlendorf, who are expected to be added to the active major league roster today, as part of roster expansion.

Claudio being recalled and going on the 60 day d.l. is simply procedural; he had been placed on the minor league disabled list earlier, and this simply gives him the opportunity to collect a month's major league salary (and service time) as he is stashed off the 40 man roster for the time being.

Mendez, meanwhile, has a 10 day window during which he can be traded, waived or outrighted.  Mendez came over to Texas in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade from the 2010 season.  Mendez has shown a live arm and some promise, been injuries have derailed him, and he's not shown enough command to be able to be relied upon as a major league reliever.  Mendez is out of options after this season, so he would have had to have stuck on the 25 man roster next spring or been exposed to waivers.  Given he was likely to be a 40 man roster casualty at some point anyway, the Rangers have apparently opted to go ahead and cut ties now.

Mendez had a 5.40 ERA in 11.2 IP this season in the majors, and a career 3.02 ERA in 44.2 IP with 31 Ks, 24 walks and 3 home runs allowed.  At AAA Round Rock this season, he had a 2.78 ERA in 35.2 IP.  I suspect someone will claim him, and then waive him later in the offseason...he's someone who could end up bumping from organization to organization this winter via the DFA route.

UPDATE -- The Rangers have officially announced that Drew Stubbs and Ross Ohlendorf have been purchased from AAA Round Rock.  In addition, Joey Gallo and Luke Jackson have been promoted from AAA Round Rock, and Josh Hamilton and Carlos Corporan have been activated from the disabled list.