Anderson, Holt activated, Yang, Benjamin down

The Texas Rangers have activated infielder Brock Holt and pitcher Drew Anderson from the COVID-19 injured list, the team announced today. To clear spots on the active roster for Holt and Anderson, the Rangers have optioned Hyeon-jong Yang and Wes Benjamin to AAA Round Rock. To clear spots on the 40 man roster — since COVID-19 players do not count on the 40 man, and the 40 man was full — the Rangers have transferred Eli White and Nick Snyder to the 60 day injured list.

I wrote yesterday that it was possible that Anderson and Holt might not be activated again this year, and now they are both back. Yang and Benjamin both pitched yesterday, so they weren’t going to be available for a couple of days anyway, meaning Anderson comes in as a long reliever. Holt gives the Rangers a fourth bench player, and really, it doesn’t make sense to carry 16 pitchers and a 3 man bench in September (especially when you’re going to end up having a position player pitch anyway, as they did last night).

Willie Calhoun is slated to come up tomorrow, per the beats. Calhoun will also need a spot on the 40 man roster opened up, though they may DFA Jason Martin, whose spot on the active roster I expect Calhoun to take.