Texas Rangers recall Yohander Mendez from AAA

Texas Rangers transactions: Yohander Mendez has been recalled from AAA Nashville, the Rangers announced today. The lefthanded pitcher has spent most of the season on the 60 day injured list due to a damaged UCL suffered this spring, and was just activated from the injured list and optioned 10 days ago. Mendez is being recalled now, rather than having been recalled when rosters expanded on September 1, due to having to wait 10 days before he was eligible to return.

Mendez was expected to be starting pitching depth for the Rangers this year, but since his return to action, he has pitched exclusively in relief, logging 18.1 IP in 12 games between Nashville, Frisco and the AZL Rangers. He will most likely work out of the bullpen now that he is in the majors.

Mendez was slated to be on his fourth option this year, but because he spent most of the year on the injured list and has spent just 10 days in the minors on an optional assignment, I believe that fourth option should carry over into 2020. If so, it makes carrying him this offseason on the 40 man roster a more viable option, since he can be sent down next year rather than having to be carried on the active roster the whole season.