The Texas Rangers announced today that they have recalled pitcher Dane Dunning from AAA Round Rock and have purchased the contract of outfielder Billy McKinney from AAA Round Rock. To make room for Dunning on the active roster, the Rangers have optioned pitcher Cole Winn. To make room for McKinney on the active roster, the Rangers have placed outfielder Evan Carter on the bereavement list. To make room for McKinney on the 40 man roster, the Rangers have transferred pitcher Tyler Mahle from the 10 day injured list to the 60 day injured list.
Sending down Winn and bringing up Dunning gives the Rangers some much needed length out of the pen after four straight extra inning games, and five extra inning games out of their last six, have taxed the pen. Dunning provides a multi-inning option for Texas, while Winn was primarily a short man.
Carter was absent from yesterday’s game for his grandfather’s funeral, and reports at the time indicated that he would be back today. It appears that will not be the case, and he will presumably not be activated from the bereavement list until Friday.
McKinney is a 30 year old former first round pick out of Plano West. The lefthanded hitting corner outfielder has slashed .295/.433/.487 in 97 plate appearances over 24 games for the Express since the Rangers signed him in late May. My initial reaction is that he would be DFA’d when Carter returns — especially since Jake Burger is expected to be activated on Friday and Wyatt Langford on Saturday — but the Rangers could opt to keep him up as a lefty hitting bench outfielder instead of Alejandro Osuna, who has seen his playing time diminish and who isn’t hitting much.
Mahle was already said to be out until after the trade deadline. This gives us a better idea of how long he will be gone, since he would not be eligible to return from the 60 day injured list until August 11, if my math is right.