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Texas Rangers transactions: The Texas Rangers have recalled righthanded pitcher Phillips Valdez from AAA Nashville, the team announced today. Rosters are expanded so no corresponding move was necessary to open up a spot for him.
I’m not sure why, exactly, Valdez is up. It may be that there’s a pitcher or two who are achy, or the Rangers don’t want to have any of their starters throw more than a few innings this week, and so they want an extra guy in the pen who can provide them with length if needed. Or it may be that they are going to waive or non-tender Valdez after the season, but want to bring him back on a minor league deal, and this is a way to work on making him want to return.
The Rangers 40 man roster is now at 35, which means only 5 players are both on the 40 man roster (and not the 60 day injured list) and not currently active. Those five are C.D. Pelham, Wei-Chieh Huang, Zack Granite, and Kyle Bird, all of whom are in the minors, and Hunter Pence, who is on the 10 day injured list.