Position: LHP
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 200 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 04/04/1991
Country: Venezuela
Signed: International Free Agent, 2007 (Rangers)
How Acquired: Free Agent
Bonus: $580,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: N/A
Overview
Perez has had a long career as a back-of-the-rotation starter. Other than a big career year in 2022, he hasn’t had an ERA below 4.38 since 2013. Other than a poor two-year stretch in 2018-19, though, he’s consistently had ERAs close to league average. He throws a low-90s sinker, along with a cutter and change. He occasionally throws a four-seam fastball, curve and slider. He’s always had low strikeout rates, but he doesn’t walk many and usually does a good job of limiting hard contact. He’s had a significant platoon split in his career, holding left-handed batters to a .641 OPS while allowing a .798 OPS to right-handed batters. Since first reaching free agency after the 2018 season, Perez has signed a long series of one-year, free agent contracts. He signed with the Pirates for 2024 at $8M, which will be his sixth such deal.
2008-11
After signing with Texas out of Venezuela, Perez advanced quickly through the Rangers’ system. The Rangers started him off in the Northwest League at age 17, skipping the rookie levels. He put up impressive numbers in 2008-09, making it to AA. He struggled there in 2010, then struggled in AAA after a mid-season promotion in 2011. He pitched those seasons, though, at ages 19 and 20. Baseball America consistently ranked Perez among the Rangers’ top five prospects and also generally included him in the top third of its overall 100 top prospects. Texas added Perez to its 40-man roster after the 2011 season.
2012-18
Perez split both 2012 and 2013 between AAA and the majors. In 2013, he made 20 starts for Texas and went 10-6, 3.62. In 2014, Perez threw back-to-back, complete game shutouts in April, but went out with elbow problems shortly after and had Tommy John surgery in May. He returned to the majors in time to make 14 starts in 2015.
Perez was a regular presence in the Texas rotation in 2016-17, making 65 starts and going a composite 23-23, 4.60. In 2018, Perez missed nearly half the season, oddly with pain in his right elbow. He eventually made 15 starts and seven relief appearances, and struggled to a 6.22 ERA. After the season, Perez embarked on his string of one-year contracts, starting with Minnesota.
2019-21
In 2019, Perez didn’t have a great season with the Twins, although his 4.69 xFIP was better than his 5.12 ERA. After the season, he signed the first of two one-year deals with Boston. In the pandemic season, he had a 4.50 ERA in a dozen starts. In 2021, Perez slumped in July and got moved to the bullpen, where he stayed for the rest of the season.
2022-23
Perez signed with Texas for 2022 and had a career season. He went 12-8, 2.89, and made the All-Star team. The advanced metrics didn’t totally buy into it — he had a very low ratio of home runs to fly balls — but his xFIP was still good at 3.80. Perez signed another one year deal with Texas for 2023. He ran into another July slump, giving up 17 earned runs in 18 innings, and the Rangers moved him to the bullpen for the last two months of the season. Perez finished with a 4.98 ERA and 1.52 WHIP as a starter, 2.70 and 1.02 in relief. After the season, Perez signed a one-year deal with the Pirates for $8M.
Stats
TRANSACTIONS
July 2, 2017: Signed by the Texas Rangers as an international free agent.
November 18, 2011: Contract purchased by the Texas Rangers.
November 2, 2018: Became a free agent.
January 30, 2019: Signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Twins.
November 4, 2019: Became a free agent.
December 19, 2019: Signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox.
November 1, 2020: Became a free agent.
February 12, 2021: Signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox.
November 7, 2021: Became a free agent.
March 14, 2022: Signed as a free agent by the Texas Rangers.
November 6, 2022: Became a free agent.
November 15, 2022: Signed as a free agent by the Texas Rangers.
November 3, 2023: Became a free agent.
January 5, 2024: Signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.