• OF/DH Manny Ramirez signed to a 1 year contract and assigned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES:  Normally I don’t report transactions on minor league signings with no corresponding major league move, because there’s a ton of them.  This one, however is not your garden variety minor league signing.   If you’re reading this page, you know Manny Ramirez.   I know a lot of people are bent out of shape for bringing him in.   It *IS* a bit of an eyebrow raiser, but I don’t object to it.   I’m kind of “meh” about the whole thing.   The Rangers are not bringing him up just for the show of having his name attached to the club.   If he does make it to the majors (which I’m not convinced of), then he will have earned it.   The way our offense is sputtering, we could use it – assuming he can actually still hit.

• P Kyle McClellan designated for assignment
• P Josh Lindblom recalled from AAA

NOTES:  Trading one “meh” for another.

• OF Craig Gentry placed on 15 day DL, retro to Jun 21
• OF Engel Beltre recalled from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Craig Gentry goes on the DL with a fracture in his left hand.  He hasn’t exactly been tearing it up, but hasn’t been bad, either.   Always hate to see that.  It does however, open a window for Engel Beltre.   If Beltre comes up and does well, I think between that and the way Leonys Martin has been playing this year it might spell the end of David Murphy’s time here.  Murph hasn’t exactly helped himself this year, either.   We’ll see how this goes.

• P Martin Perez recalled from AAA
• P Smokin’ Joe Ortiz optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES:  Martin Perez is back.  I hope he can get a handle on a starting spot in the rotation, as he was looking REALLY good in the spring before he got hurt.  If he kept going at the rate he was then, I wonder if he’d have like 10 wins by now if he had never gotten hurt.  Bring it on Martin!

• 1B Mitch Moreland activated from 15 day DL
• P Josh Lindblom optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Lindblom has been “eh”, so I guess we felt we were OK with swapping a pitcher for a hitter, as that’s what happened.  Moreland is back, hopefully he can keep doing well, and the loss of momentum doesn’t affect him.

• P Smokin’ Joe Ortiz recalled from AAA
• C Robinson Chirinos recalled from AAA
• IF Jeff Baker placed on 15 day DL, retro to Jun 13
• 1B Chris McGuiness optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES:  McGuinness wasn’t doing much, so he was an obvious candidate to go to AAA if someone had to go.  Jeff Baker going to the DL is unfortunate, I’ve rather liked how he’s been going.    Smokin’ Joe is back (I’m still calling him that – pbbbbt), probably due to bullpen fatigue.  I’m not entirely sure why they called up a third catcher at the moment, though.

• 2B Ian Kinsler activated off 15 day DL
• IF Leury Garcia optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Kinsler is back from his stint on the disabled list.   Given our offense has been pretty lethargic the last week or so, his arrival could help.  Assuming he doesn’t pop out 70% of the time like he usually does.

• P Michael Kirkman placed on 15 day DL, retro to Jun 7
• P Kyle McClellan purchased from AAA
• P Joakim Soria moved from 15 to 60 day DL [ Link ]

NOTES: Michael Kirkman was placed on the DL for a reason you don’t want to be.  Nobody WANTS to be on the DL, but especially not this.  re-occurrence of his cutaneous lymphoma.  Uh, cancer.  That is a big ol’ pile of suck right there.   Will pray for him to get better.  I’ve known a few people with that, unfortunately.   Kyle McClellan, who’s been doing well in AAA lately, gets the call to replace him on the roster.  Joaqum Soria got transferred from 15 to 60 day DL in a procedural move.

• P Alexi Ogando placed om 15 day DL
• P Josh Lindblom recalled from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Ogando just came back, and now he’s gone again.  That always strikes me as a “came back too fast” move.  There’s some noise in the press that when he comes back, he might go back to the bullpen – for good.  I thought we had decided this already.  Is he turning into our own Joba Chamberlin?   Lindblom comes back, who hasn’t exactly thrilled me this season.  We’ll see how it goes.

• 1B Mitch Moreland placed on 15 day DL
• P Colby Lewis moved from 15 day to 60 day DL
• IF Chris McGuiness purchased from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Moreland got hurt running the bases, which was a shame, as he’s been doing decently this season.  Didn’t want to lose him, and more to the point his momentum.   Colby Lewis wasn’t progressing as well as expected, so he was moved to the 60 day DL to make roster room for Chris McGuiness, who had his contract purchased, and will be making his major league debut.  That’s always fun, but hate when it comes at the expense of someone else.  Of course, it almost always does.

• P Alexi Ogando activated from 15 day DL
• P Joe Ortiz optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Smokin’ Joe Ortiz (screw that, I’m still using the name) hasn’t been so smokin’ lately, so when it was time for Alexi Ogando to come off the DL, he was the casualty.  Shame, as I’ve liked Ortiz.  But you gotta get the job done.