Calhoun active, Martin down, Yang DFA’d

The Texas Rangers have officially activated Willie Calhoun from the 60 day injured list. To open up a spot on the active roster for Calhoun, the Rangers have optioned outfielder Jason Martin to AAA Round Rock. To open up a 40 man roster spot, the Rangers have designated pitcher Hyeon-jong Yang for assignment.

Calhoun landed on the injured list in late June due to a broken arm suffered on a hit by pitch. He has been on a rehab assignment, first with the ACL Rangers, and then with Round Rock, prior to being activated today. Though there are just three weeks left in the season, both Calhoun and the Rangers want to give him the opportunity to get playing time the rest of the way.

Martin seemed like the likely candidate to get sent down once Calhoun was activated, since Martin, like Calhoun, is a lefthanded hitting left fielder. I thought Martin might be DFA’d, but instead it is Yang, who was optioned yesterday. Yang is eligible, I believe, to be a free agent after this season under the terms of the contract he signed when he came over this offseason from the KBO, so DFA’ing him now just means ties are cut a little earlier than would otherwise have happened.