ARLINGTON -- Rangers veteran righty Edinson Volquez is expected to be activated off the 60-day injured list and be added to the club's 40-man roster when rosters expand on Sunday.

Texas is planning to make the move even though it means taking another player off the 40-man and exposing that player to outright waivers. It would also mean giving a roster spot to Volquez, even though he's planning to retire at season's end.

Rangers manager Chris Woodward said that Volquez is worth it.

“I’m excited to have him back,” Woodward said. “He feels fine. He feels good. He has been throwing the ball well. I think it will help us.”

Volquez missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was in the Rangers' rotation at the beginning of '19, but he made just two starts before going down again with a strained right elbow.

Volquez has spent the summer rehabbing his arm, with hopes of being able to pitch in the Majors again before he retires, and the Rangers want to honor that request.

“He has invested a lot in this team,” Woodward said. “I know he was hurt for a lot of it, but his presence around this team and these younger pitchers is huge. You can’t overvalue that. Him being around has really helped our club and the culture in that clubhouse. This is the least we can do that. He can still pitch. He’s pretty good.”

Volquez has pitched in four games for the Arizona Rookie League Rangers and four at Double-A Frisco. In eight combined innings, Volquez has allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, with six strikeouts.

Other roster notes

• Outfielder Nomar Mazara is just about recovered from his strained left oblique muscle. He is expected to be ready for the Rangers' three-game series that begins Monday at Yankee Stadium.

• Right-handed starter Adrian Sampson, who has been out with lower back spasms since Aug. 19, is also expected to be activated off the IL in New York.

• Left-hander Jeffrey Springs could be ready to come off the IL and activated when rosters expand Sunday. He's been sidelined since June 17 with left biceps tendinitis.

• The Rangers are still hoping left-hander Joe Palumbo will be able to pitch in September but the blister on his left thumb has not yet completely healed. He is throwing on the side but with a bandage over the thumb.

• Outfielder and designated hitter Hunter Pence, who has not played since Aug. 22 because of a strained lower back, has not yet resumed baseball activities and is not close to returning.

• Outfielder Joey Gallo is taking batting practice but is still 1-2 weeks away from being fully recovered from right wrist surgery.

Rangers beat

• The Arizona Rookie League Rangers captured their first AZL title since 2012 by sweeping the Indians' affiliate in the best-of-three series.

• The Rangers' No. 1 team in the Dominican Summer League was defeated by the Royals in the decisive Game 3 of the DSL Championship Series.