Martin Perez to be activated, Joe Palumbo moving up

The Texas Rangers are making moves with lefthanded pitchers Martin Perez and Joe Palumbo, per the beat guys on Twitter. Perez, who has been on the disabled list since the end of April, will be activated by the Rangers and start against Baltimore on Saturday. Palumbo, meanwhile, is moving to the high-A Down East Wood Ducks as part of his rehab assignment.

Perez broke his right (non-throwing) elbow in an accident with a bull this offseason, started the season on the disabled list, and made five starts, largely bad ones, before being put back on the disabled list. Perez has made three rehab starts — one apiece for Hickory, Frisco and Round Round — and has pitched well, allowing just one run in 17.1 IP, with 19 Ks against 3 walks. Austin Bibens-Dirkx was optioned yesterday, which creates an opening in the rotation for Perez, but the Rangers will need to clear both a 25 man roster spot and a 40 man roster spot when Perez is activated. Austin Jackson, who has until tomorrow afternoon to report, could be the 40 man roster casualty, as the Rangers asked him to hold off reporting after acquiring him on Sunday as they worked to find another trade where he could go somewhere to get more playing time. He’s a candidate to be either traded or designated for assignment, and either move would clear a 40 man spot. A 25 man roster spot would likely be created by optioning Ryan Rua, who is part of a four man bench currently.

In regards to Palumbo, he has spent the entire season on the 60 day d.l. after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, 2017. He made three starts for the Rangers’ rookie league AZL team, going 2, 3 and then 4 innings in those outings, striking out 15, and walking 1 while allowing 4 runs. He will re-join Down East, where he was pitching last season before landing on the d.l., and is slated to start on Friday for the Wood Ducks. He will most likely spend the rest of the year at Down East. Palumbo can spend up to 60 days on a rehab assignment, since he is returning from Tommy John surgery, which means Texas has to activate him by August 23 and option him. Given the amount of time he has missed this year, he almost certainly would qualify for a fourth option year, should one be necessary.