Though the Diamondbacks were eyeing left-handed relief help earlier in the month, they are not interested in Oliver Perez, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter). The Mets released the 29-year-old left-hander yesterday and reports have since established that the Yankees and Brewers are not interested in Perez, either.
Perez, now a free agent, is set to earn $12MM in 2011, the final year of his three-year, $36MM contract. If an MLB team signs him, they'll contribute about $400K of his salary and the Mets will pay the remaining $11.6MM.
As MLBTR's Tim Dierkes explained earlier today, Barry Enright and either Armando Galarraga or Aaron Heilman figure to fill out the back of Arizona's rotation. Rule 5 pick Joe Paterson could make the team and Mike Hampton and Jordan Norberto provide additional depth from the left side.
The Padres signed Perez as an amateur free agent in 1999 when current D'Backs GM Kevin Towers was San Diego's GM.
According to Kirk Gibson today, the only rotation guarantees for the Diamondbacks as of today are Ian Kennedy (Opening Day), Dan Hudson, and Barry Enright. Joe Saunders was given no such guarantee, and I personally would give Aaron Heilman a better shot at winning a spot than Galaragga. Regardless, I assume the person who takes spot #5 will be sent to the bullpen in favor of Zack Duke, who will hit the DL when the season starts.
So… are we gonna have a post for every individual team not interested because this could take a while.
No surprise.
For what it’s worth, the word “D-backs” is officially spelled with a dash rather than an apostrophe. Just a technicality, but one I feel MLBTR should be made aware of. :)
As for the content of this particular post… well, duh.
Apostrophe is used in conjoining words like “it is” becoming “it’s”. Diamondbacks = D’backs still works fine.
Thanks for the second grade grammar lesson, I needed it.
The team has it consistently written one way on their merchandise and press releases, and it’s for a reason. They chose one way to abbreviate it, and I’d say they’re the authority on it.
BURNNNNNN
Considering Towers gave out multi-year deals to the likes of Geoff Blum and Melvin Mora, I’d say giving a minor league deal to Perez wouldn’t top his off-season “duh” moments.
i will donate 10 american dollars to mlbtr if you guys do 30 of these posts
Two down. Twenty-eight to go.
I’ll throw in $10 bucks canadian for the cause
Damnit, I didn’t read this far down. Oh well, go Canada!
I will give 10 canadian dollars! That’s some real money! lol
It might as well say Paterson will make the team. The only thing stopping him is an injury.
I can see someone taking a chance on the guy, and, if you’re Perez and you’ve already banked $12 million for this season, why wouldn’t you take a minor league deal and try to earn a contract for next season that route?
He wouldn’t let the Mets send him down to the minors before. Who knows if he’d take such a deal now.
I’m thinking that he was forcing their hand in that instance. Now that he’s unemployed and staring the end of his career squarely in the face his tune is likely to change. His only route to the majors is back thru the minors at this point, and I’m sure he knows that.
Before MLBTR makes a separate post about it figured I would give the scoop myself. I am officially not interested in Oliver Perez.
Who the hell would be? This article is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. LMAO!!!! This guy is the biggest piece of crap ever to put on a uniform.
If the biggest piece of crap to ever put on a uniform could have a season where he goes 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP, then MLB has some sick talent.
“Cardinals Not Interested In Oliver Perez; Dave Duncan Says He Can Fix Anyone…Except Perez”
“It’s true, I like reclamation projects,” Duncan said, “But turning Oliver Perez into someone useful again would be like building the Hoover Dam out of a glass of milk.”
Couldn’t the Cards use Perez? If anyone can fix a pitcher, it would be Dave Duncan. And at $400k wouldn’t it be worth a shot?
“Padres not interested in Oliver Perez, Jed Hoyer says Petco park is too hitter friendly for his skillset”