PITTSBURGH -- The Rangers optioned Delino DeShields to Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday ahead of Ronald Guzmán’s impending return to the lineup on Thursday.

The “tough choice,” as Texas manager Chris Woodward put it, came down to three options: exposing Danny Santana or Logan Forsythe to waivers, trimming the bullpen or finding a workaround by moving a player with options intact. The club decided on the latter.

“At this point in time, we are choosing to keep a deeper bullpen and didn’t want to cut ties permanently with anyone,” Jon Daniels, the Rangers’ president of baseball operations and general manager, said in a statement. “We expect Delino will play every day in Nashville, get himself going and be ready to help us again this year.”

With Joey Gallo capable of playing center field, Hunter Pence vying for more playing time thanks to his hot bat and Santana available in a utility role, the outfield situation has become a little more crowded than expected at the outset of the season. The loss of DeShields’ impact on the basepaths may be felt, as he is tied for the team lead with eight stolen bases.

This season, DeShields has batted .182 with a homer and 10 RBIs. He legged out a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 9-6 comeback win to help set up a game-tying grand slam.

Woodward said on Wednesday that Guzman is on track to return on Thursday, as the Rangers open a series with the Astros in Houston. The first baseman went on the injured list on April 7 with a right hamstring strain.