Rangers Demote Martin Perez To Bullpen

ARLINGTON, Texas – Martin Perez has been moved to the Texas Rangers bullpen, as expected.

The move comes in the wake of the Rangers acquiring starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery before the trade deadline. The left-hander is 8-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 20 starts this season.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy attempted to couch the move as temporary. But unless more injuries hit the starting rotation, Perez is likely to be relegated to long relief or a spot start for the remainder of the regular season.

"Right now, our plan is for him to help us out in the bullpen,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that’s where he’s going to stay, but this time around that’s the plan.”

Perez hasn't been available since Bochy made the announcement.

Perez struggled in July. He had an 8.50 ERA in four starts.

The last time Perez came out of the bullpen was with the Boston Red Sox in 2021.

The Rangers updated rotation now includes Scherzer, who started his first game for Texas on Thursday, along with Montgomery, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning.

Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, when asked about the surplus of starters after the trades, said: "There is no such thing."

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.