Texas Rangers rumors: Adrian Beltre return imminent?

Texas Rangers rumors: Adrian Beltre, the Rangers third baseman currently on the disabled list, could be activated during the Rangers’ series against the Detroit Tigers scheduled for Monday through Wednesday, May 7 through May 9, according to Jeff Wilson. Beltre was running on the field after today’s game, and Wilson says he is planning on running the bases tomorrow.

That would be a quicker that expected return for Beltre, who went on the disabled list less than two weeks ago with a grade one hamstring strain. Getting him back and at third base for the Rangers would be a big boost for a team that is struggling to produce runs, and has played some shaky defense of late.

While Beltre’s return is hazy, it appears almost certain that Rougned Odor will be activated in the next couple of days. Odor played for Frisco on Saturday and Sunday on a rehab assignment, and he should be back before the team’s scheduled Thursday off day. Odor and Beltre returning during the Tigers series would likely results in Yohander Mendez, the lefty pitcher who was called up to give the Rangers a fresh arm in the pen earlier in the week, and who hasn’t appeared in a game since coming up, getting sent back to Round Rock. Ryan Rua would likely to be the other player sent down, as he was the position player called up to replace Beltre on the active roster when Beltre went down.

Meanwhile, relief pitcher Chris Martin, who was placed on the disabled list this past week as a precautionary measure, should be activated when he is eligible to return on Friday. That will necessitate another roster move, with either Ronald Guzman or Isiah Kiner-Falefa seeming to be the most likely choices to be sent down. Sending Guzman down would mean Joey Gallo playing first base, and Kiner-Falefa moving to a utility infielder role, but it would also mean Kiner-Falefa probably spending more time on the bench than you would prefer. Sending IKF down would mean Guzman playing first base, Gallo left field, and give you a bench of Renato Nunez (who would likely be in a de facto platoon with Guzman, starting in left field against lefthanded pitchers, with Gallo moving to first base), Drew Robinson (who would be the utility infielder and backup center fielder), and Carlos Perez, the backup catcher.