Jesse Chavez to the injured list, David Carpenter up

Texas Rangers transactions: Jesse Chavez has been placed on the 10 day injured list with a right elbow impingement, the team announced today. Taking his place on the active roster is David Carpenter, whose contract was purchased today. The Rangers had an open 40 man roster spot, so no corresponding move there was necessary, and the Rangers’ 40 man roster is now full.

An “elbow impingement” is never a good thing, though it remains to be seen if this is something structural that could mean Tommy John surgery (which would mean Chavez would be done through 2020) or something less serious. Given the state of things with the Rangers right now, Chavez could just be shut down for the rest of the season, with an eye towards making sure he is healthy in 2020, the final year of his deal with Texas.

Carpenter would seem to be a placeholder for the time being. He was up briefly earlier in the year, facing 5 batters and allowing a hit, 2 walks and 2 runs in 0.2 IP in one appearance. The 34 year old righthander has a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 IP for Nashville this year, and give the Rangers some innings out of the pen for the time being, but he likely is keeping this roster spot warm until the Rangers decide to bring up one of their other minor league arms.