ARLINGTON, Texas, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The Texas Rangers Friday returned unproductive outfielder Juan Gonzalez to the 15-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his right thumb.
It is the second time this season Gonzalez has landed on the DL with the same ailment. He injured the thumb in April while swinging a bat and missed more than a month.
He was examined by hand specialist Dr. Bobby Wroten on Thursday and was diagnosed with a sprained ulner collateral ligament in his right thumb. He is in a splint and was placed on the DL Friday, retroactive to July 31.
"It might be a couple of days before he plays again," said Rangers Manager Jerry Narron. "We'll have to see where he is."
Gonzalez, 32, has not played in 37 games and missed 37 days because of torn muscle fibers in the thumb during the first seven weeks of the season.
He has been a major disappointment in his second stint with the Rangers, batting .282 with just eight homers and 35 RBI in 70 games.
The 1996 and '98 American League MVP while with Texas, Gonzalez signed a two-year, $24 million contract in the offseason after batting .315 with 35 homers and 140 RBI for Cleveland in 2001.
The Rangers also optioned lefthander Juan Alvarez to Triple-A Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League while purchasing the contract of infielder Donnie Sadler from Oklahoma.
Alvarez was 0-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 33 relief appearances for the Rangers. Sadler was hitting .266 with four RBI in 17 games in the PCL.
