ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are swapping out backup catchers, announcing before Thursday's game with the Red Sox that they have added veteran Carlos Perez and designated Juan Centeno for assignment.
The Rangers claimed Perez off waivers from the Braves on Wednesday. Perez played in just eight games and hit .143 for the Braves after being acquired from the Angels in the offseason.
The Rangers are more familiar with Perez in his time with the Angels. He played in 184 games with the Angels in 2015-17, hitting .224 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs over 548 at-bats.
"Our scouts like the defensive side and they see there is some upside with the bat," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "They like the durability and how he handles the pitching staff."
Over the past four years, Perez has thrown out 31.7 percent of attempted basestealers. That was the 11th best among 56 Major League catchers with a minimum of 125 games caught.
"With all catchers, you look at the defensive side of it," Banister said. "If you get the offense, you have an All-Star player. But defense is necessary in every catcher we look at it."
Centeno is out of options, but he still could be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock if he clears outright waivers. He would also have the option of refusing the assignment and becoming a free agent.
When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.
The Rangers still have veteran Cameron Rupp at Triple-A Round Rock, where he is hitting .250 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 16 games. The Rangers signed him to a Minor League contract after he was released by the Phillies at the end of Spring Training.