ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers optioned right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama to make room for Saturday starter Justin Grimm.
The club also moved Neftali Feliz to the 60-man disabled list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Grimm.
The move leaves the Rangers with just six pitchers in the bullpen for the immediate future. Texas manager Ron Washington doesn't expect that to last long.
"We definitely want to get back to seven relievers as soon as possible," Washington said. "When? I don't know."
Washington said the club didn't want to send a position player down because they would be one short there too with Josh Hamilton not playing because of his virus.
Yu Darvish started Friday and went eight innings so the bullpen is fresh enough to take the gamble with a bullpen member. Tateyama, who did not speak with reporters, was 1-0 with Texas with an 11.88 ERA in seven appearances.
"As I always about Tate he doesn't hurt himself by walking people," Washington said of Tateyama. "If you're going to beat him, you have to swing the bat. He throws strikes, takes the ball. He had options. Sometimes it's helpful and sometimes it's detrimental. In this case, we had some unforeseen things that happened. Tate ended up getting optioned."
