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• P Joaquim Soria traded to Detroit Tigers for P Jake Thompson and P Corey Knebel. [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, with this season in the tank, moving some of the more valuable (but not TOO valuable) pieces was inevitable.  As many have said, you don’t need a real hot closer when you have the worst record in baseball, so we moved Soria to Detroit for two minor league pitchers.   I don’t know much about these kids other than what I heard on the Rangers post game show last night.  But the one thing that I think is the coolest about them is the fact that they were both in the Top 10 prospect list for the Detroit organisation.

Also, as a lesser thing, both inbound pitchers are from Texas, one of them from Rockwall, which is like a 2 minute drive from where I live.  From a baseball standpoint, that does’t mean anything, but it’s always cool to have local boys in the organization.

I’ll miss Soria. I liked his pickup originally, but the brain said we didn’t need him, even if the heart didn’t want to let him go.

• 1B Jim Adduci activated from 15 day DL
• P Matt West optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Jim Adduci is off the DL for Monday’s game in Yankee stadium.  He’s one of those guys I always liked having on the team.  Kind of reminds me a bit of Herbert Perry.  Never going to light the world on fire, but a good, solid guy to have around.  Hope he is properly healed, and can help us.  We certainly need it.

• P Ryan Feierabend (#68) purchased from AAA
• P Aaron Poreda optioned to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Ryan Feierabend becomes the 50th different player the Rangers have used on the big league club in 2014.  That sets a new major league record for most players on the roster before the All-Star break.

In other news, Jim Adduci was assigned to AA Frisco for a rehab assignment, and Engel Beltre was removed from his rehab assignment, and remains on the 60 day DL.

• P Phil Irwin optioned to AAA
• P Matt West recalled from AAA
• C Geovany Soto moved from AAA to AA for rehab [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Irwin got his cup of coffee.  Matt West is recalled from AAA to take his spot.  This is really starting to feel like musical chairs where I have no idea who is playing.

• P Nick Martinez placed on 15 day DL, retro to Jul 2
• P Phil Irwin recalled from AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: Sigh.

• P Roman Mendez (#55) recalled from AAA
• OF Jake Smolinski (#20) contract purchased from AAA
• OF Michael Choice optioned to AAA
• IF Donnie Murphy designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Michael Choice, who was super hot coming out of spring training has been anything but in the majors.  Finally had enough, I would imagine, and sent him down.  Donnie Murphy was always kind of a spare plug kind of player.  Didn’t dislike him, but he didn’t exactly set the world on fire.  Time to check out another couple of kids, both of which will be making their major league debuts when they play.

They also said we’ll have another pitcher starting tomorrow making a debut, so the carousel continues to turn.

• P Neftali Feliz recalled from AAA
• P Ben Rowen optioned to AAA
• P Joe Saunders placed on release waivers [ Link ]

NOTES: Neftali Feliz makes his return to the Rangers roster, and Ben Rowen was sent down.  Ben Rowen I rather liked, but Feliz, if he truly is healthy and ready can be a massive asset.   I think this is a lost season at this point, but still, Feliz has got to be better than most of the other optiosn we’ve been running out there lately.

Just in case anyone was holding on hope (snicker) that Saunders might pass through waivers and be outrighted..  The Rangers put him on release waivers today.  He’s done.

• P Miles Mikolas (#36) recalled from AAA
• P Joe Saunders designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead!

• IF Adam Rosales (#9) purchased from AAA
• IF Luis Sardinas optioned to AAA
• P Cory Burns claimed by Tampa Bay off waivers [ Link ]

NOTES: None of these guys are a real long term solution, but I suspect the team felt they were better off with a slightly more experienced player (Rosales) than Sardinas on the bench.

• 1B Carlos Pena (#21) purchased from AAA
• 1B/OF Brad Snyder designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES: Well, Carlos Pena is back.  I’m not expecting much from him, but he can hardly be any worse than who was playing there after Moreland went down.  Thing is, can Pena take over the club lead in strikeouts given he’s missed so much of the season so far? I  think he can!

There’s a story on the MLB site about getting a “fresh start” with the Rangers this year.   I hope it goes better with his fresh starts with the A’s, the Tigers, the Red Sox, the Rays, the Cubs, the Astros, & the Royals.