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Texas Rangers transactions: Yohander Mendez has been optioned to AAA Round Rock, and to take his place on the active roster, Brandon Mann has been added to the 25 man and 40 man rosters.
Mendez being sent down was expected, as the team has been using him as a starter in AAA, and he was brought up to give the team a fresh arm in the bullpen. Mendez hadn’t pitched for two weeks before going two-thirds of an inning last night. The expectation was that Nick Gardewine, who had been optioned when Mendez was recalled, would be brought back up today, since it has been ten days since he was optioned and today is the first day he was eligible to return.
Instead, it is lefthander Brandon Mann getting the call. Mann, who turns 34 on Wednesday, was a 27th round pick of the Rays in 2002, and pitched in their organization through 2009. He pitched for the Dodgers’ organization in 2010, was released, pitched five games in Indy Ball that season, went to Japan for 2011 and 2012, didn’t pitch in 2013, pitched for the Pirates’ organization for 14 games in 2014, pitched in Indy Ball again in 2014, and in 2015, and spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the A’s organization.
This will be Mann’s first time in the major leagues. He has a 1.04 ERA in 17.1 IP for Round Rock, albeit with just 13 Ks against 5 walks. The Rangers had a pair of open spots on the 40 man roster, so they could add Mann without dropping anyone. My guess is Mann will be up until Chris Martin, who is currently on the disabled list, and whose spot in the bullpen Mendez has been occupying, is ready to return.
Martin, meanwhile, is starting a rehab assignment with Frisco on Monday. My guess is that he would be activated sometime this coming week. Also starting a rehab assignment with Frisco on Monday is outfielder Carlos Tocci, who has been on the disabled list for the past three weeks with a bruised hip. The Rule 5 pick will likely spend the maximum 20 days on the rehab assignment with Frisco, as the team evaluates whether they will to continue carrying him on the major league roster all season, or put him on waivers and offer him back to Philadelphia, the team that drafted him.