Rangers option Martinez to make room for Chi Chi Gonzalez

The Texas Rangers have optioned right-hander Nick Martinez to the minors to make room for Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was called up to make a start on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins.

Optioning Martinez could push his time in the minors past 20 days, which would put him under a full year of service time for 2015, thus costing him enough time to postpone free agency by a year. Players who spend more than 20 days in the minors don't use an option and don't lose service time.

Players are eligible for free agency at six years of service time.

Martinez, 25, is 7-7 on the season with an earned run average of 4.09 in 21 starts.