BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Rangers Sign Leary, Activate Pavlik

The Texas Rangers signed veteran right-hander Tim Leary and activated left-hander Roger Pavlik from the 15-day disabled list.

Leary, 35, worked out for the Rangers on Wednesday in Minneapolis, and the club was impressed enough to offer him a contract. He has a career record of 77-104 in 286 games with six teams.

This season, he was 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA in nine games for triple-A Ottawa of the American Assn.

Pavlik, meanwhile, started Saturday night against the Detroit Tigers, getting the loss after giving up four runs in the first inning. It was his first start since June 11.

He was initially put on the disabled list after straining a muscle in the back of his right shoulder.

To make room for Leary and Pavlik, the team put infielder Doug Strange on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right knee and optioned left-handed pitcher Dan Smith to triple-A Oklahoma City.

Strange was batting .214 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 57 games. Smith was 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 relief appearances since he was called up from Oklahoma City on June 7.

*

Kansas City first baseman Wally Joyner was put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 26, because of a strained left shoulder.

Joyner injured the shoulder diving for a ball in Yankee Stadium June 3 and has aggravated it several times since.