The Rangers released Orlando Hernandez from his minor league contract on Friday. Hernandez becomes a free agent just one month after he signed with Texas. El Duque was 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in eight relief appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City since being activated three weeks ago. Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the team had no plans to add Hernandez to their major league roster by Monday, when the pitcher would have been able to opt out of the contract.