CLEVELAND -- The Rangers claimed catcher Carlos Perez off waivers from the Braves on Wednesday and moved shortstop Elvis Andrus to the 60-day disabled list in a corresponding move.
Perez is out of options and will meet up with the Major League club in Texas on Thursday, when the club will announce a corresponding 25-man roster move. General manager Jon Daniels said that the Rangers are unlikely to carry three catchers on the big league roster, so backup Juan Centeno could be dropped unless Robinson Chirinos needs to go on the DL.
Centeno is hitting .162/.184/.270 this season, but he hit his first home run in Wednesday's 12-4 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. However, Chirinos was out of the lineup Wednesday and was seen in the locker room with a large ice pack around his right hand and wrist after Monday's game. Daniels said that Chirinos is "a little banged up."

Perez becomes the third catcher on the Rangers' 40-man roster, although rookie Isiah Kiner-Falefa also has Minor League experience behind the plate. Perez was a backup in Atlanta and was designated for assignment on Friday with the return of Tyler Flowers. He hit .143/.182/.143 in 22 plate appearances and has a career .258 wOBA.
"He's a good defensive catcher that we've liked in the past," Daniels said. "We had an opportunity to bring him in."
Andrus has been out for the past three weeks with a broken right elbow, and Daniels estimated that it would be another four weeks before he can swing a bat. At that point, he will be able to go out on a rehab assignment, and Andrus would be first eligible to return on June 10.