MVN - Most Valuable Network

NEWSFLASH: Rangers Make Flurry Of Roster Moves

The unstoppable youth movement continues.

Multiple local media sources, including Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, are reporting that the Texas Rangers have activated third baseman Hank Blalock from the 15-day disabled list, purchased the contract of catcher Taylor Teagarden from Triple-A Oklahoma, optioned right-hander Kameron Loe to Oklahoma, and designated right-hander Joselo Diaz for assignment.

Teagarden’s Major League debut will come tonight in Minnesota under less than optimal circumstances, as backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia has been sidelined with a sore groin and a “severe head cold” that kept him in bed through the better part of the All-Star break. His stint on the active roster is not expected to interfere with his previous ‘08 Olympic Games obligations, but his availability could swing on the status on Saltalamacchia’s health:

“I’d like to see him go to the Olympics,” manager Ron Washington said. “But if we have a need for him, we’ll just have to say: ‘Sorry’.”

Since we’ve more or less already said everything that can possibly be said about Teagarden and Blalock over the last few days (here and here, respectively), here’s a bonus treat - video of Taylor terrorizing the California (Penal) League during his 81-game stint at High-A Bakersfield last June, which he thoroughly dominated to the tune of .315/.448/.606 with 20 HR in 292 AB:

This entry was posted on Friday, July 18th, 2008 at 4:09 pm and is filed under NEWSFLASH, The Season. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.