Martin Perez to the disabled list, Jose Leclerc recalled

Texas Rangers transactions: Martin Perez, lefthanded starting pitcher, has been placed on the disabled list by the Texas Rangers, the team announced today. Taking Perez’s place on the 25 man roster is relief pitcher Jose Leclerc.

Leclerc has been bounced up and down between AAA and the majors several times already this season, and since he’s got options and his control issues have Jeff Banister reluctant to use him in critical situations, he’s the guy who has drawn the short straw as far as being on the Round Rock shuttle. Leclerc’s return gets the bullpen back to eight relievers.

As for Perez, he and Banister said this weekend that he probably rushed his return after breaking his right elbow over the winter. John Blake says Perez is being placed on the disabled list with “continued discomfort” in his elbow, and is returning to Arlington to be examined by the team doctor.

Perez has been awful since being activated from the disabled list, and after yesterday’s 4 inning, 4 run start (which could have been much worse), I speculated that the Rangers might look to move him to the disabled list so that he could get a couple of rehab starts in at Frisco or Round Rock, and work on his mechanics, or whatever he needs to work on, to get back to being a functional starting pitcher. It looks like the Rangers have decided that’s the route to go with, though we shall see if Dr. Meister’s examination of Perez’s elbow indicates there’s any other physical issue.