Texas Rangers transactions: Rougned Odor activated, Renato Nunez designated for assignment

Texas Rangers transactions: Rougned Odor, Texas Rangers second baseman, has been activated from the disabled list, the team announced today. To make room for Odor on the active roster, the Rangers have designated Renato Nunez for assignment.

Odor had been on the disabled list since straining his hamstring on April 9. Odor has ugly offensive numbers this season, but his performance in the days leading up to his injury was better, and his batted ball profile this year is fairly solid, so the hope is that he will pick up where he left off pre-injury and put his ugly 2017 season behind him. While there has been some fans who have suggested they would like to see Isiah Kiner-Falefa get regular playing time instead of Odor, Rougie is likely going to be getting most of the starts at second base for the foreseeable future.

Renato Nunez being designated for assignment isn’t a big surprise, although it is interesting the team opted to DFA him, rather than option Ryan Rua -- Rua, who is currently on the active roster, had originally been optioned to AAA Round Rock to make room on the active roster for Nunez when the Rangers added him. Nunez had been claimed on waivers by the Rangers from the Oakland A’s on April 15, and had played left field, as well as being pressed into duty at third base some during Adrian Beltre’s absence.

Nunez, who had been moved to the outfield from third base due to his defensive shortcomings there, was predictably brutal at the hot corner, and while he showed flashes with the bat, his overall line of .167/.244/.278 in 41 plate appearances with Texas wasn’t enough to keep a 25 man roster spot. Since Nunez is out of options, the Rangers can’t send him to the minors without exposing him to waivers -- the same process which allowed them to claim him in the first place. Texas has seven days to waive, trade or release Nunez, and my guess is that they will try to run him through waivers in an attempt to outright him to AAA and keep him in the organization.

This leaves the Rangers with two open spots on the 40 man roster. Texas currently has a pair of players who are expected to be activated from the 60 day disabled list later this month in Tim Lincecum and Ricky Rodriguez. In addition, Elvis Andrus will need a 40 man roster spot when he is activated from the 60 day d.l., which is expected to be in mid-June.