Long-standing southpaw Martin Perez, who previously departed the Texas Rangers once before, has now inked a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. This marks the second time the most seasoned Texas Rangers player has bid farewell.
As per various sources, including MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez has agreed to a one-year deal worth $8 million with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pérez, who made his debut in the Major Leagues in 2012 after rising through the ranks of the Rangers’ system, dedicated nine seasons to the club, encompassing the last two.
The 33-year-old Perez, set to turn 33 in April, was moved out of the starting rotation in July and played the remainder of the season and postseason as a bullpen asset.
.@Pirates, Martín Pérez reportedly agree to deal, per @MLBNetwork Insider @JonHeyman. pic.twitter.com/Fqt19ZPyrQ
— MLB (@MLB) December 18, 2023
During 2020 and 2021, Perez played for the Boston Red Sox.
Throughout his nine-year tenure with the Rangers, Perez achieved a 65-61 record with a 4.30 ERA. His standout season was in 2022, earning an All-Star selection. Despite being on a team with a subpar win-loss record, he posted impressive stats of 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA across 32 starts.
In 2023, Perez began with a strong 10-4 record but faced difficulties by mid-July, resulting in a move to the bullpen. Initially starting with a 6-1 record and a 3.97 ERA in his first 12 starts, he encountered a rough patch, going 2-3 in his subsequent eight starts with a much higher ERA of 6.69.
His performance in terms of home runs also fluctuated significantly. He allowed 10 home runs over his initial 68 innings, but this number rose to eight homers in his next 40 1/3 innings.
When questioned about Perez’s future with the team in recent weeks, Rangers general manager Chris Young refrained from discussing any specific details regarding the team’s free agents. Young mentioned that the club was actively negotiating with all the 2023 roster’s current free agents.
Although Perez seemed unlikely to secure a spot in the Rangers’ Opening Day rotation, he remained a valuable option to bolster the team’s pitching depth.
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