NEW YORK -- Rangers left-hander Martin Perez was hoping to avoid going on the disabled list, despite a fracture on the tip of his right thumb. But he is not currently able to get his hand in his glove, so the Rangers placed him on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday.
"I can't do anything with my right hand," Perez said. "I can't even touch anything."
Perez is able to play catch and keep his arm going as long as somebody is there to receive the ball. That's why the Rangers are hoping this won't be an extended stay on the DL.
"It's probably going to be 7-10 days before he can shove his right hand in his glove," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "We're protecting him. He'll still be able to throw and run. When we get to the point Martin can protect himself defensively, we'll get him off the disabled list."
Perez injured his thumb jamming it into a hotel door on Thursday night. It's happened before. Former Rangers third baseman Buddy Bell had a similar accident in 1985.
"It's better to wait and not push through it and get hurt," Perez said. "In 10 days, let's go, no excuses."
The Rangers replaced Perez on the roster with infielder Drew Robinson. The Rangers will have to make another roster move on Monday when Cole Hamels returns from his stint on the DL.