The Rangers announced a series of roster moves this afternoon, most notably the news that Ezequiel Duran has been placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 24) due to mild discomfort in his right oblique. Outfielder Travis Jankowski was activated from his own 10-day IL stint and will take Jankowski’s place on the active roster. Left-hander Cody Bradford was also called up from Triple-A to take the spot of Dane Dunning, as Dunning is going on the paternity list.
One of many contributors to the red-hot Texas lineup this season, Duran has made the most of some extended playing time when Corey Seager went on the 10-day IL. Duran became the Rangers’ top choice as the fill-in shortstop, and since Seager returned last week, Duran had been getting some DH time in order to keep his bat in the lineup. After a modest .643 OPS over 220 plate appearances in his 2022 rookie season, Duran has broken out with seven homers and a .301/.340/.515 slash line over 144 PA this year. While Duran’s 2.8% walk rate is near the bottom of the league and he has benefited from a .358 BABIP, he has still been making a lot of hard contact, and his plus speed has contributed to that good fortune with balls in play.
Duran missed the last few games with what was initially described as rib soreness, and while the new designation of an oblique problem isn’t exactly good news, the injury does seem to be relatively mild. If all goes well, he might just miss only a minimal amount of time, plus he already has a few days banked via the retroactive IL placement.
Jankowski returns after missing just shy of three weeks due to a right hamstring strain. Signed to a minor league contract during the offseason, the veteran has hit well (.309/.382/.412) over 77 PA while seeing time in mostly in left and center field. Left field has been a relative weak link in the Texas lineup, with the Rangers juggling Jankowski, Robbie Grossman, Bubba Thompson, Josh H. Smith and even Duran in and out of the position. This could be a regular spot for Duran when he returns from the IL, or the Rangers might look for a bigger left field upgrade at the trade deadline.
That Duran for Duran (reliever) idea I proposed should still be reasonable. Zeke has improved his value since the start of the season. Maybe add Acuna/Foscue in?
Dude noway! Don’t trade the breakout player! Trade from the glut of young middle infield prospects in the minors who are blocked. We can totally fix the bullpen by trading guys like Foscue, Acuna and Saggase
Sell high before he turns to garbage, like Odor, Mazara, Tepesch, Nick Martinez, Justin Grimm, Otto, Alexy, Solak, etc. All those guys started off hot and turned bad.
kind of a slap in the face to Duran, a guy who has done nothing but hit at all levels so far. I suppose we should trade Leody too? What about Lowe or Jung?
Lowe was a good prospect, and Jung has hit at all levels. Duran has no plate discipline, and his batting average on balls in play is unrealistic.
But Duran too has hit at all levels as well and his discipline on breaking balls away has gotten better this year.
He’ll come undone?
He’s hungry.
Like a wolf
Where are Jankowski haters now? Dude has a 121 OPS+. A decent 77 PA sample size
Who could hate on him, dude can take his own place on the active roster…or maybe that’s just an author error…
Jankowski replaces Jankowski. He must be beside himself
Travis Jankowski and I have just one thing in common… SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY.
Jankowski will take his own place? Weird
Ditto.
Comment of the month!
Duran might still be used in a package of Foscue, Smith, Crim and others to get Reynolds and Bednar. By the time a suitable package would be developed, the payment for those two from the Pirates would be dramatic. But opening up positions on the 40 while getting Reynolds and Bednar would be helpful in multiple ways.
Jankowski is a known entity. We have been lucky to get the few goods weeks out of him that we have. His usual crash is coming soon.
Zero chance, you don’t sign a guy long term and then trade him the same year, it’s a major no-no and would damage Pittsburgh’s ability to sign free agents. Ship has sailed on Reynolds.