NEW YORK -- The Rangers, believing Joaquin Benoit will be ready to pitch on Tuesday, have designed pitcher Robinson Tejeda for assignment to make room for Kason Gabbard.

Benoit is still sidelined with inflammation in his right shoulder and is still unavailable to pitch in a game. His last appearance was on June 7 in Arlington.

He threw long toss on Saturday at Shea Stadium without any problems and said the shoulder felt better. But he still doesn't know when he'll be ready to pitch again.

"This is the first time I've thrown since [June 7] so I really can't answer that," Benoit said.

The Rangers have two more games with the Mets on Sunday following Saturday's rainout and are off on Monday. They open a three-game series with the Braves on Tuesday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and are clearly counting on Benoit being ready. Even if he's still uncertain.

The alternative would be to put him on the disabled list, but that would keep him out until June 24 and the Rangers don't see the need for that.

"I don't see the value of putting a guy on the disabled list if he's only going to miss one more game," general manager Jon Daniels said.

The Rangers have 10 days to trade Tejeda or get him through outright waivers so they can send him back to Triple-A Oklahoma. If he clears waivers, he could refuse assignment and become a free agent. He cleared waivers once at the end of Spring Training.

Tejeda was called up from Oklahoma on May 30 and allowed six runs on five hits and five walks in four appearances. He was 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA in 10 games, including four starts, at Triple-A Oklahoma while striking out 39 and walking 10 batters over 33 innings. But that hasn't translated to success at the big league level.

"He's got a good arm, but he has been inconsistent," Daniels said. "He cleared waivers earlier in the season. If he clears again, he's got a choice. We hope he stays."