Rangers Purchase Contract of C Chris Gimenez; Option C J.P. Arencibia

Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers announced this afternoon that the club has optioned catcher J.P. Arencibia to Triple-A Round Rock. The team has also purchased the contract of catcher Chris Gimenez (#60 - pronounced JIM-ehn-ehz) from Triple-A Round Rock. To make room on the 40-man roster for Gimenez, the club has transferred left-handed pitcher Martin Perez from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list.

Arencibia was the club's Opening Day catcher and batted .133 (8-60) with one home run, 3 doubles, and 6 RBI in 20 games/19 starts behind the plate.

Gimenez will be in uniform tonight seeking to make his Texas debut. He was a member of the club's Opening Day roster on March 31, but was designated for assignment on April 1 and did not appear in a game with the Rangers. He cleared waivers on April 3 and was granted free agency on April 5, but was re-signed to a minor league contract on April 10 and has spent the rest of the season with Round Rock. Gimenez has batted .259 (28-108) with 4 home runs and 16 RBI in 31 games for the Express, including a .308 (12-39) average against left-handed pitchers. He has seen action at catcher, first base, and designated hitter at Triple-A this season. He has caught 12 of 24 (50.0%) attempted base stealers in 17 games behind the plate for Round Rock.

Gimenez was originally received on a waiver claim from the Oakland Athletics on March 28 and was on an Opening Day roster for the first time. He was in major league spring camp with the A's before he was acquired by Texas, and compiled an overall .265 (9-34) average with 3 doubles, no home runs, and 3 RBI in 26 Cactus League games. He has seen action in 143 major league games with Cleveland (2009-10), Seattle (2011), and Tampa Bay (2012-13).

Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 14, retroactive to May 11, and underwent surgery Monday morning to repair the partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The surgery was performed by Texas Rangers Team Physician Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Surgical Center in Arlington and went as expected.

After today's moves, the Rangers still have a full 40-man roster.