ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have informed pitcher Martin Perez they intend to pick up his $6 million option for next season. That's hardly a surprise, considering the Rangers' great need for pitching.
But it does give Perez peace of mind going into the offseason.
"I want to be here next year, I want to be here the next three years," Perez said. "I began my career here, and I want to end it here."
It is the first of three options for the Rangers and Perez as part of his contract signed after the 2013 season. The first option was $6 million for 2017 with a $2.45 million buyout.
The Rangers also hold a $7.5 million option for 2019 with a $750,000 buyout and a $9 million option for 2020 with a $250,000 buyout.
Perez will make his final start of the season Friday against the A's. He is 12-12 with a 4.83 ERA, including going 7-2 with a 3.63 ERA in his last 10 starts. This will be his 32nd start this season and 65th over the past two.

Perez, who came back from Tommy John surgery in 2015, is one of 10 Major League pitchers to make at least 64 starts over the past two years.
"I want to go into the offseason on a positive note, and start getting ready for next year," Perez said.
Daniels reflects on Rangers' season
As his team finishes with a losing record for just the second time in nine years, general manager Jon Daniels said there will be much to review this offseason.
"I thought the guys, they fought all year," Daniels said. "They stayed in the fight all year. We kind of ran out of gas at the end here. Most of our team, you could make a case for being on the DL. We had a lot of guys playing through more than just the normal bumps and bruises. I can't fault any of them.
"Usually, when we sit back and look at the season, we start with our process and putting the club together, and looking at things we can control. That's where our focus will be. What areas do we need to get better in from an organizational standpoint?
"Obviously, the player improvement piece and the player development piece, that gets talked about on a regular basis, and that'll be part of it. A lot of it's going to be, what can we do as a front office, decision-making, to put ourselves in a better position going forward?"
Worth noting
• Outfielder Willie Calhoun hit his first Major League home run off Astros starter Justin Verlander on Wednesday. He is the seventh Major League player to hit his first career home run off Verlander. Mike Napoli did so in 2006, while with the Angels.
• Manager Jeff Banister said the Rangers are sticking with Perez, Andrew Cashner and Cole Hamels as their starters for the final three games. Yohander Mendez could pitch multiple innings in relief of Hamels on Sunday.
• Catcher Robinson Chirinos celebrated his son David's 10th birthday with an on-field celebration before batting practice. His wife, Heidy, is expecting their second child, which they found Thursday will be a boy.