Full Breakdown
Rangers Move Danny Jansen to 10-Day IL and Add Veteran Catcher Elias Díaz
6/7/2026, 9:32:42 PM
Core Event: Jansen’s IL Placement and Díaz Signing
On June 7, 2026 the Texas Rangers placed veteran catcher Danny Jansen on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm strain, retroactive to the preceding Wednesday. Simultaneously, the club signed 35-year-old catcher Elias Díaz to a one-year major-league contract and added him to both the 26-man and 40-man rosters.
Background & Context
Jansen, who joined Texas as a free agent in December 2025 after splitting that season between Tampa Bay and Milwaukee, had been struggling at the plate, hitting .171 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 41 games. The Rangers’ catching depth had been thin; Kyle Higashioka was handling daily duties, and the organization sought a healthy veteran backup to stabilize the position.
Key Figures & Groups
- Danny Jansen – 31-year-old catcher, 36 starts this season, career .216 average, 91 HR, 268 RBI in 640 games for Toronto, Boston, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, and Texas.
- Elias Díaz – 35-year-old Venezuelan catcher, former NL All-Star (2023), career .246/.300/.385 line, 73 HR, 331 RBI in 840 games for Pittsburgh, Colorado, San Diego, and Kansas City.
- Skip Schumaker – Rangers manager, responsible for roster moves and public comments.
- Josh Smith – Infielder sent to Double-A Frisco for a rehab assignment after a glute strain and a bout of viral meningitis.
Data & Statistics
- Jansen: .171 (21-for-123), 3 HR, 12 RBI, 36 starts at catcher.
- Díaz (2026 Royals stint): .227 (5-for-22), 2 HR, 5 RBI in 10 games.
- Díaz career: .246 average, 73 HR, 331 RBI, 840 games; caught 65 steal attempts (2021-25), third-most in the NL.
- Rangers’ roster: 40 players on the major-league roster; four pitchers on the 60-day IL (Carter Baumler, Cody Bradford, Robert Garcia, Jordan Montgomery).
Official Statements & Responses
Manager Skip Schumaker explained that Jansen’s forearm “had been bothering” him for several days and that arm issues are “always tricky.” He said the club hoped to “catch it in time” to limit the IL stint and emphasized that Díaz was signed “as a veteran catcher… in case Danny can’t play.” Schumaker also noted that the move preserves catching depth for the upcoming series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Anytime you're dealing with an arm, it's always tricky,” — Skip Schumaker, Rangers manager
- “Hopefully, we got it caught in time and can manage it where it's not that long of an IL stint.” — Skip Schumaker
- “He's a veteran catcher, just in case Danny can't play today, so we'll go with that.” — Skip Schumaker
- “Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said the forearm had been bothering Jansen for a few days.” — Skip Schumaker
- “| Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Schumaker said that Jansen could have caught on Friday night in an emergency but probably wouldn’t have been able to throw out baserunners.” — Skip Schumaker
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reuters cited the IL retroactive date as “Wednesday” (June 5), while the Rangers’ press release listed it as retroactive to June 3. No specific timeline for Jansen’s return was provided.
What’s Next
The Rangers will open the series against the Cleveland Guardians with Kyle Higashioka starting and Díaz available as a backup. Schumaker expects Jansen to miss “a few days,” after which the club will reassess the catching rotation. Josh Smith will continue his rehab assignment in Double-A Frisco.
