Carlos Perez outrighted, Joe Palumbo optioned, Yohander Mendez moved up

Texas Rangers transactions: Carlos Perez was activated from the 10 day disabled list and put on waivers at some point over the weekend, as the Rangers announced today Perez has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to AAA Round Rock.

Perez being sent down means that Isiah Kiner-Falefa will continue to be the team’s backup catcher in the majors. I’d suggested in the past that IKF would likely be sent down to get regular playing time, with Perez returning to the major league roster, but Jeff Banister has been emphatic of late that Kiner-Falefa deserves to stay up and is benefiting more from being in the majors in a part-time role than he would playing every day in the minors, so this is consistent with what Banister is saying. Perez, meanwhile, is the team’s third catcher with Jose Trevino being currently sidelined with a shoulder issue.

Perez being removed from the 40 man roster opened up a spot for Joe Palumbo, who the team announced has been activated from the 60 day disabled list and optioned to high-A Down East. This is purely procedural, as Palumbo has been with Down East the past week on a rehab assignment anyway. While this will technically burn an option for Palumbo, given the amount of time he has missed this year due to recovering from Tommy John surgery, he will likely be eligible for a fourth option. That said, I suspect the Rangers are hoping he will be in the majors for good by 2020, making a fourth option moot.

With Palumbo replacing Perez on the 40 man roster, the 40 man roster remains full.

In addition, Yohander Mendez has been promoted from Down East to AA Frisco. I have no idea how long he will be there, although I suspect the Rangers goal is for him to be back in the major league rotation by the time rosters expand in September.

Finally, the Rangers officially released Austin Jackson. We will always remember our time together, Austin.