The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has placed right-handed pitcher Jeremy Jeffress on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to June 21, with a strained lower back muscle. The club has also purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Preston Claiborne (#57) from Triple-A Round Rock. To make room on the 40-man roster for Claiborne, the team has designated right-handed pitcher Eddie Gamboa for assignment.
Jeffress has gone 1-2 with a 5.46 ERA (18 ER/29.2 IP) in 31 relief appearances for Texas this season, tied for the club lead in games pitched. He last appeared on Tuesday vs. Toronto, and the first date he would be eligible to be activated is July 1.
Claiborne, 29, will be available in the bullpen for today's homestand finale against Toronto, seeking his Texas debut and first major league action since 2014. He has gone 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA (4 ER/26.1 IP) and 31 strikeouts over 26 relief appearances with Round Rock this season, converting 13 of 14 save chances, tied for the most saves in the Pacific Coast League. He signed a minor league contract with Texas on February 3 and spent the majority of the spring in minor league camp. He also appeared in 7 Cactus League games for the Rangers this spring, going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA (2 ER/4.0 IP).
Claiborne went 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA (30 ER/71.1 IP) over 62 major league appearances with the New York Yankees in 2013-14. He last appeared in a major league game on September 27, 2014 at Boston. The Dallas native graduated from Carrollton Newman Smith High School in 2006 and pitched for Tulane University prior to his selection in the 17th round of the 2010 June draft by the Yankees.
The Rangers have seven days to trade, release, or outright Gamboa to the minor leagues. He was acquired in a February 14 trade with Tampa Bay. He has spent the year with Round Rock, posting a 5-6 record with a 6.49 ERA (56 ER/77.2 IP) in 14 games/starts.
After today's transactions, the Rangers remain at the 40-man limit on the club's major league roster, along with five players on the 60-day disabled list.