Arlington, Texas — Mike Gonzalez will be activated Wednesday after spending more than a year recovering from ligament-transplant surgery on his elbow.

"I'm getting two or three hours of sleep every night just because I'm so anxious to get up here," said Gonzalez, who joined the Braves in Texas on Tuesday.

The Braves sent reliever Phil Stockman back to Class AAA Richmond to make room for Gonzalez on the roster.

Gonzalez pitched back-to-back days on a rehabilitation assignment in Richmond over the weekend. After taking two days off to rest, he comes in confident.

"Every time out my slider was getting better, my velocity was getting better and my confidence was getting better," Gonzalez said. "After the last games I threw out there Saturday and Sunday, I felt like I could come out here and do what I do."

Saltalamacchia checks in with Braves

Jarrod Saltalamacchia saw his old Braves teammates Tuesday for the first time since he was traded last July in a seven-player deal for Mark Teixeira that shook Saltalamacchia's professional world.

By now, there are smiles, hugs and quips about his curly locks by the batting cage with Jeff Francoeur, Brian McCann and Chipper Jones. "Salty" has been a Texas Ranger now for almost a year. But the last time he saw his former teammates, on July 31, words were painful. The former No. 1 prospect in the Braves system had learned about the trade the night before, watching preliminary reports scroll across the bottom of his TV screen.

Then-general manager John Schuerholz made it official in a phone call the next day, once pitcher Matt Harrison's physical was completed.

"It was tough, man," said Saltalamacchia, who grew up in West Palm Beach, Fla. where the Braves used to train. "I grew up a Braves fan. I got to know those guys and lived with those guys year round, minor leagues and up. To have to leave when you didn't want to was tough. But that's baseball and it happens. It's something that probably could benefit me, I guess."

Saltalamacchia's path to the majors was blocked by Brian McCann, who had signed a multiyear deal to be the Braves catcher of the future. He arrived in Texas to find himself in another crowded situation behind the plate with Gerald Laird.

The Rangers tried Saltalamacchia at first base some last season but decided in the offseason he had the most value as a catcher. He has struggled throwing (22 of 24 baserunners have stolen on him), and he's hitting .244 with three homers and 14 RBIs. He and Laird are currently in a platoon.

Etc.

Closer Rafael Soriano might pitch again as soon as he's eligible to come off the DL Saturday against Seattle. Manager Bobby Cox said the plan was "rest the rest of the disabled list time and pitch." ... Jones was the designated hitter Tuesday night, so he could have a day of rest from the field. Cox said he would do the same for Teixeira on Thursday, with Teixeira the DH for that day game.