The Texas Rangers activated reliever Joaquin Benoit off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. The righthander had been sidelined since early June with right elbow tendinitis. Benoit, who had shoulder problems earlier this year, has pitched in just seven games this season. In his last outing, Benoit lowered his earned run average to 0.63 with 3 1/3 scoreless innings on June 7 against Philadelphia. He has only allowed only six hits and one earned run in 14 1/3 innings this season with 15 strikeouts and four walks. To make room on the roster for Benoit, catcher Gerald Laird was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma. Laird had been recalled Monday, and started in place of Rod Barajas against the Angels. Barajas was back in the lineup Tuesday after missing Monday's game with a strained back muscle.