3 difficult roster decisions the Rangers must address when injured players return

While the Texas Rangers have receieved positive news on ahandful of pitchers on the IL with longer injuries but that comes with soon to be difficult decisions to be made.

Cody Bradford, Jon Gray and Josh Sborz are yet to appear in a game for the Rangers this season after Bradford and Gray got hurt in spring training and Sborz is still recovering from right shoulder surgery during the offseason. All three are slowly but surely returning to baseball activites, some are fruther along in the process.

When they are ready for their debut, they will have to get placed on the 40-man roster which unfortuntely means a removal or two of current players. Some will be hard decisions and others will be perfectly timed departures but with that in mind, let's take a look at these three players nearing returns.

3 Rangers due off the 60 Day Injured List that will need to take a roster spot

Cody Bradford

The most recent news about Bradford is that he passed a major test for his elbow's durability post injury scare and he was able to throw his offspeed pitches with no pain or setbacks.

This means that he can continue to throwing bullpens and progress to lengthening out. The current spot on the roster for Bradford is murky but we know that he has absolutely earned one wherever it might be. By the time he is lengthened out and ready to go, we will likely be past the All-Star break and even then the Rangers will likely be very patient with his progression.

I think that the future move to activate Bradford will be tied to a trade. Tyler Mahle has been inflating his trade value and if the Rangers are closer to .500 either way, they will likely part with Mahle and get prospects in return.

The departure of Mahle would open up a key position in the rotation and make it easy to slide into the position he was pacing for. I see this as the most likely option that isn't just a simple DFA of another player on the 40 man roster.

Josh Sborz

The hero of the 2023 postseason has seemingly thrown away 2 years of health in exchange for that World Series victory. He doesn't regret it, Rangers fans are happy he did so, but both sides are looking for positive news in the future.

There is a real possibility of Sborz getting back to live at bats soon after his latest update, similar to Bradford, that he had thrown off speed pitches for the first time in his shoulder surgery recovery.

Relievers are different than starters so the progression to getting back in is a shorter timeline, which lends to think he could get back into game action by the middle June whether minor leagues or in a simulated game.

This activation will be simple. Gerson Garabito has been in the minors for a little bit now and Sborz can slide right back into his 40-man spot and right to MLB with a demotion of one of Boushley, Heuer or maybe even Luke Jackson.

Jon Gray

Gray had a wildly unfortunate injury in spring training after a strong display to begin the year. He took a ball off the wrist and that resulted in a fracture in his wrist and subsequent placement on the 60-day injury list.

He initially was given six weeks until he would resume normal activity but he received positive news on an X-ray and was approved to begin light throwing on May 1. Since it has been over a month since this and there haven't been many updates since this, we are bound for another positive update soon. Once he returns, there will be a big decision for Chris Young.

Who he will replace is a small decision considering there are options currently on the roster. When Gray comes back, there is likely not a spot for him in the rotation barring a serious injury but there is a dire need for relievers and a consistent long relief arm. Gray could replace either the recently called up Codi Heuer, Gerson Garabito or my personal pick of Jacob Latz.

Latz has been underwhelming despite flashing MLB level stuff at times. A relocation to another team and organization could do wonder for Latz just like Grant Anderson and this activation gives a good chance for both sides to part ways.