Faulkner, Sadzeck, Mendez optioned in first round of cuts

Pitchers Andrew Faulkner, Yohander Mendez and Connor Sadzeck were all optioned today by the Texas Rangers, and pitchers Ariel Jurado, Adam Loewen, and Jose Valdespina have all been re-assigned to the minor league camp, per the beat guys on Twitter.

The most noteworthy moves in this group are Faulkner and Loewen being sent down. With Jake Diekman on the disabled list, there would appear to be a possible opening on the major league roster for a lefty reliever in the bullpen to join Alex Claudio, and Faulkner and Loewen are both lefty relievers. I think the expectation was that those two -- and especially Faulkner, who opened the 2016 season on the major league roster — would stick in the big league camp a little bit longer.

These moves leave Alex Claudio and Dario Alvarez as the only two lefty relievers on the 40 man roster still in the major league camp, and Wesley Wright as the only NRI lefty reliever in the major league camp.