The Rangers have designated 1B Chris Shelton for assignment. Shelton played in 41 games for the Rangers this season and he was 21 for 97 (.216 avg, .663 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 2 homers and 11 RBIs. The Rangers have recalled 22-year old lefty swinging 1B Chris Davis to take over as the starting 1B. Davis played in 77 games in AA+AAA ball this season and he was 99 for 297 (.333 avg, 1.029 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 23 homers, 73 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Davis has also played in 2 games for the Rangers now and he is 2 for 5 (.400 avg) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 2 RBIs. This was a move that should have been made a while ago as Davis looks like he is the real deal.

The Rangers have designated Robinson Tejada for assignment. Tejada pitched in 4 games (0 starts) with the Rangers this season and he was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. The Rangers have recalled lefty starting pitcher Kason Gabbard to replace Tejada on the roster. Gabbard will move back into the rotation for the Rangers. He has started 10 games for the Rangers this season and he is 1-3 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. His biggest problem has been his control as he has walked 32 batters in only 47.1 innings this season.

This came out of nowhere and it will likely hurt the team on the field as Ponson was pitching pretty well. But, his repeated actions both on and off the field made this a move that had to be made. It will be addition by subraction as the Rangers feel they are better off without him no matter what happens the rest of the season. Ponson started 9 games for the Rangers this season and he was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He allowed 71 hits in only 55.2 innings this season so you had to figure that his ERA would eventually go up. Still, this move was a shock.

27-year old switch hitting OF/DH Jason Botts is heading off to the Far East to try his luck in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters. Botts played in 15 games for the Rangers this season and he was 6 for 38 (.158 avg, .699 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 2 homers and 5 RBIs. He also whiffed an amazing 18 times this season. The Rangers got tired of waiting for Botts to produce but he might do well in Japan as a lot of players who have failed in the majors have dominated in Japan. Botts played in 93 games in his career with the Rangers and he was 65 for 282 (.230 avg, .669 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 5 homers and 28 RBIs. He also whiffed an astounding 108 times with the Rangers. They won’t miss Botts at all as a lot of players have passed him up in the Rangers system.

The Texas Rangers have designated righty reliever Franklyn German for assignment. German pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Rangers this season and he was 1-3 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. German had issues with walks as he had 13 of them in only 21.2 innings. The Rangers will likely have to trade him in the next 10 days or they will definately lose him on waivers as arms like his don’t grow on trees. The Rangers have recalled 26-year old righty reliever Kameron Loe to replace German on the roster. Loe pitched in 16 games (0 starts) in AAA ball this season and he was 2-3 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Loe will pitch in long relief tonight.