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Nationals Sign Oliver Perez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 25, 2011 at 9:19am CDT

The Nationals signed Oliver Perez to a minor league deal and assigned him to minor league camp, the team announced (on Twitter). This marks the second time this week that an NL East rival has picked up a discarded Mets veteran; the Phillies signed Luis Castillo Monday.

The Nationals will be responsible for the Major League minimum salary if Perez makes the team and the Mets will assume the rest of his $12MM salary. Southpaws Sean Burnett and Doug Slaten figure to pitch at the major league level, while Perez works in the minors. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter) that Perez will begin the season at Triple-A.

The Nationals signed Perez on the recommendation of Spin Williams, a pitching coordinator who knows Perez, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter). Perez will report to minor league camp and work with Williams, according to Mark Zuckerman of CSNWashington.com (on Twitter).

As MLBTR's Agency Database shows, the Nationals already have eight Scott Boras clients: Rick Ankiel, Alex Cora, Danny Espinosa, Alberto Gonzalez, Bryce Harper, Ivan Rodriguez, Stephen Strasburg and Jayson Werth. Boras appears to have a strong working relationship with Nationals GM Mike Rizzo.

Yahoo's Tim Brown first reported the deal.

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New York Mets Transactions Washington Nationals Oliver Perez

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107 Comments

  1. DMCj

    14 years ago

    Yuck. That is all.

    Reply
    • Infield Fly

      14 years ago

      I’ll say!
      See what happens when GM’s forget to take their meds?

      Reply
    • Mario Saavedra

      14 years ago

      Below this comment 400 bitter and angry Met fans comments about how Mike Rizzo is retarded and/or Oliver Perez will suck.

      Reply
  2. Mets Fan

    14 years ago

    haha here i thought the nats were getting pretty good…now they are not

    Reply
    • NL_East_Rivalry

      14 years ago

      You do know this is a Minor League deal, right?

      Reply
      • Mets Fan

        14 years ago

        yeah ik but still

        Reply
        • inleylandwetrust

          14 years ago

          You also know your team is responsible for over 12 mil of that salary right?

          Reply
          • Mets Fan

            14 years ago

            yeah but idc hes off the team now and thats all that matters…would i rather wait a whole year with him on the team wasting a roster spot and having to pay the money after that anyways, or would i rather pay it now and get a use full roster spot, and take 400k off his 12 mil…it makes sense

            Reply
            • NL_East_Rivalry

              14 years ago

              that is reasonable, but here the Nats take a low risk move. Only problem is that they are essentially throwing away 400k-. All depends on where his ceiling stands right now.

              Personally, I’d say something like: Hey Perez, thought you were too good for a Minor League Deal.

              Reply
            • brendonkuhn

              14 years ago

              I’d rather HAVE Ollie for 400k than NOT have him for $11.6 mil…but that’s just me

              Reply
              • mr mojo risin

                14 years ago

                I’d rather pay him 11.6 mil to sabotage a division rival than 400K to pitch for my team

                Reply
                • DiehardDbak

                  14 years ago

                  LOL

                  Reply
                • NL_East_Rivalry

                  14 years ago

                  I’d rather pay him nothing and watch him ruin 2 Division Rivals

                  Reply
          • TigersLoveCinnamon

            14 years ago

            Actually just under 12 million

            Reply
      • joe

        14 years ago

        i wanna know why. why is oliver perez suddenly ok with going to the minors now that he is a national? just annoying

        Reply
        • NL_East_Rivalry

          14 years ago

          So do I as I posted above. Guess it was the only way, to get a deal and I am sure he wants to play.

          Reply
        • goner

          14 years ago

          Perhaps Spin Williams saw something fix-able in Perez’s delivery, and was able to convince him that it would be worth a try to correct it in the minors

          Reply
  3. notsureifsrs

    14 years ago

    POOPING FROM LOLLING

    Reply
    • bigpat

      14 years ago

      best. reaction. ever.

      Reply
    • The_Silver_Stacker

      14 years ago

      Lol you made me choke on my coffee

      Reply
      • notsureifsrs

        14 years ago

        at least you only had to wipe your chin

        Reply
  4. Mets Fan

    14 years ago

    now the mets can get their payback on olli

    Reply
  5. EdinsonPickle

    14 years ago

    Eh, maybe if he decides to convert himself to a pitcher some good can come of this.

    Reply
    • TartanElk

      14 years ago

      Well done sir, well done.

      Reply
  6. bringbackandruw

    14 years ago

    3 more wins for the Braves

    Reply
  7. Martin M.

    14 years ago

    very fast these nats

    Reply
  8. WolandJR

    14 years ago

    Maybe he can play CF.

    Reply
  9. ProfessorIronHorse

    14 years ago

    Its official, the Nationals are Scott Boras’ new favorite mark, I mean team.

    Next week, the Nationals sign Joe Crede.

    Reply
    • sourbob

      14 years ago

      Joe Crede has infinitely higher odds of being useful than Perez.

      Reply
  10. Farid Rushdi

    14 years ago

    Don’t understand all the negativity about these types of signings. It’s a minor-league contract and all the Nats are responsible for is his minor-league salary. The Mets pay the rest. If he finds himself again, great. If not, what did it cost the team?

    I have a feeling that someone associated with the Nationals have noticed a flaw in his delivery over the past couple of years and believe he can be “fixed” by correcting it.

    He’s only 29 and remember that Livan won 10 games and had a 3.66 ERA after three very bad seasons. Who is to say that Perez can’t do the same? Do I think he will? No. But he might. You never know.

    Reply
    • notsureifsrs

      14 years ago

      it’s not negativity. it’s laughter

      opening day is still a week away. this is all we can do

      Reply
      • inleylandwetrust

        14 years ago

        Man I can’t wait any longer for opening day. Something about baseball that just makes everything right.

        Reply
    • YanksFanSince78

      14 years ago

      ………………..agree

      Reply
    • JoeV

      14 years ago

      apparently you haven’t seen him the past two years…he sucks

      Reply
    • JoeV

      14 years ago

      apparently you haven’t seen him the past two years…he sucks

      Reply
      • mainesox

        14 years ago

        You can say that again

        Reply
  11. Gumby65

    14 years ago

    The Anti-Strass.

    Reply
    • James Darmody

      14 years ago

      that’s true. Perez never had Tommy John Surgery!

      Reply
      • Gumby65

        14 years ago

        Yet 5 days after TJ Surgery, a state trooper could probably still give Strasburg’s fastball a ticket.

        Reply
        • JacksTigers

          14 years ago

          It’s hard to throw a fastball when your arms in a sling…

          Reply
          • MB923

            14 years ago

            You’d still probably have a more accurate throw with it in a sling over Oliver Perez

            Reply
    • drjayphd

      14 years ago

      …wait, they start Perez, then the next day, start Strasburg to make him look even more dominant? MY GOD IT’S GENIUS

      Reply
  12. Tom

    14 years ago

    Anyone think this is Rizzo doing a FAVOR for Boras? I can’t believe Rizzo would be this dumb without getting something in return

    Reply
    • PostMoBills

      14 years ago

      If this was a favor, how much did Rizzo owe Boras before the Werth deal?

      Reply
      • Bender44

        14 years ago

        When you have the type of crippling Faberge egg addiction that Rizzo has, you tend to owe some pretty big favors.

        Reply
        • HobokenMetsFan

          14 years ago

          hah I don’t think people got this reference.

          Reply
          • Bender44

            14 years ago

            I’m glad someone did though.

            Reply
  13. Andrew

    14 years ago

    Well this certainly isn’t as fun as the Yankee’s signing him.

    Reply
  14. Braydon Gervais

    14 years ago

    Ehhh there’s a new phenom in town! Strasburg who??

    Reply
  15. Blue387

    14 years ago

    “Oliver Perez is the next Sandy Koufax.”
    – Scott Boras

    As least Koufax knew when to quit.

    Reply
  16. NWDC

    14 years ago

    I think this is 99.5% likely to not work out for the Nats but it is costing them nothing so why the hate?

    Reply
    • grownice

      14 years ago

      Dontchu know?? Hataz gonna Hate mannnn

      Reply
      • MB923

        14 years ago

        I don’t know of anyone that hates the Nationals. I just think they find this signing humorous.

        Reply
    • MB923

      14 years ago

      If $400,000 is nothing, then uh, give it to me because I can sure use it.

      Reply
    • bringbackandruw

      14 years ago

      Since when is 400k nothing?

      Reply
    • Alexander_Brovechkin

      14 years ago

      It’s a typical garbage-heap signing for the Nats. If it works out, we look like geniuses and can maybe unload him at the deadline for something. If not, we lost nothing, like with Wang last year. $400k in Major League salaries is nothing, especially since our owners are the richest in baseball.

      Reply
  17. Mike

    14 years ago

    The Nationals have seen this guy pitch all spring. What makes them think he’s going to all of a sudden find 8 MPH more. Stupid scouts.

    Reply
    • NWDC

      14 years ago

      Stupid commenter thinking this deal means the scouts are in love with Perez. It’s a minor league deal. A minor league MINIMUM deal. $65k.

      Reply
      • Karsch

        14 years ago

        Yes and someone signed him to a minor league deal. I understand its a minor league deal but what is the point? He will never make the team and the Nationals have a surplus of pitching.

        Reply
      • Mike

        14 years ago

        Relax bud. If scouts are willing to give this guy a chance than they clearly haven’t been paying attention. Perez throws 85MPH with no movement. He can’t find the plate, can’t pitch to righties (not much better against lefties either) and falls over every time he releases the ball. This guy wouldn’t go to the minors last year when the Mets asked him to. Forgive me for having absolutely zero faith in the guy. I’m sure he’s a nice guy but he doesn’t deserve a chance in major league baseball ever again.

        I’m sure he’ll never pitch for the Nats but have fun watching him the rest of the spring. I’m sure you’ll be impressed.

        Reply
        • YanksFanSince78

          14 years ago

          Considering that he signed a MINOR LEAGUE DEAL I think the Nats are well aware of his shortcomings but are willing to try and see if they can salvage something out of him for some purpose, even if it’s as a loogy in july or august.

          Reply
        • NWDC

          14 years ago

          Let me ask you this — who is more likely to contribute to the Nats this year, Perez or the woman that answers the phone when you call 202-675-NATS? Because they’ll make about the same amount of money. He gets $65,000 unless the Nats decide to promote him and pay the MLB minimum.

          Reply
          • Mike

            14 years ago

            I’m not arguing with you over Oliver Perez. Enjoy the show.

            Reply
          • oleosmirf 2

            14 years ago

            wait people go to Nationals games?

            Reply
            • MB923

              14 years ago

              Only if Strasburg pitches, which unfortunately won’t happen this year, but if Perez ever came in relief, you’d find an empty stadium.

              Reply
            • BS

              14 years ago

              Yeah. Phillies fans.

              Reply
          • East Coast Bias

            14 years ago

            wtf, she gets 65k for answering calls?! I chose the wrong profession…

            Reply
          • Vmmercan

            14 years ago

            There is no chance a Customer service Rep for the Nationals is making $65,000 a year. None.

            Reply
  18. bigpat

    14 years ago

    Yikes. I know it’s a minor league deal but what’s the upside? If he’s on their major league roster, their season is over. They have so many other worthy candidates for 5th starter jobs unless he’s going to work in the minors and become a reliever, something I didn’t think he was very high on.

    Also, the Nats seem to be stockpiling ex-Pirates, it’s really kinda weird.

    Reply
  19. John Venable

    14 years ago

    Daniel Cabrera take II. Nats continue to be a horribly run team.

    Reply
    • wickedkevin

      14 years ago

      That is way too far of a claim.

      Reply
    • Alexander_Brovechkin

      14 years ago

      I thought Cabrera was more of a Nook LaLoosh whereas Perez has a dead arm. The claim that they are a horribly run team is ridiculous. You can polish a turd but it’s still a turd. Signings like this just indicate that they’re investing little to maybe get something out of it. Most of the big name FAs want to go to top teams and not terrible teams like the Nats because they want to win now. If you want to claim they’re poorly run, you should look at how well they have invested in the farm system, which was just horribly decimated by Omar Minaya’s reign of terror and Jim Bowden’s stupid use of draft picks. They’re getting things done at the bottom and just have to tread water at the top until the kids are ready.

      Reply
  20. LUWahooNatFan

    14 years ago

    This is a waste of 400K….I don’t understand why the Nationals did this, I don’t really see any way Perez makes it to the Nationals unless Burnett and Slaten both get injured, which is highly unlikely. I just don’t really get this move.

    Reply
    • $4555515

      14 years ago

      oh noes not 400K!!!! the nats are sure 2 go broke now

      Reply
    • NWDC

      14 years ago

      IT’S NOT $400K. That’s the MLB minimum. It’s 65k, the minor league minimum.

      Reply
  21. Ottino

    14 years ago

    its just a minor league deal, literally no risk involved with this signing. who cares its not even a big deal. although i agree it would be hilarious if the yankees signed him

    Reply
  22. wickedkevin

    14 years ago

    THIS would happen the day I wear my Nats hat…

    Reply
    • inleylandwetrust

      14 years ago

      You should have done all caps on “would” not “this”

      Reply
      • wickedkevin

        14 years ago

        I wish I had an option for italics 🙁

        Reply
        • jdub220

          14 years ago

          You do.

          Reply
  23. rizdak

    14 years ago

    They’re signing him…to do what, exactly? I guess their advance scouts are impressed by his 86-mph gopherball.

    Reply
    • mozelpuffski

      14 years ago

      or i believe williams it is? sees a flaw and thinks he can adjust it. then who knows. low risk high reward.

      Reply
      • Tko11

        14 years ago

        Someone can fix Oliver Perez? The world is rhombus shaped?

        Reply
  24. krosnest0713

    14 years ago

    Hey, look Perez is gonna help the Mets after all. Hes gonna pitch for the Nats against the Mets!(yes I know its only a minor league contract)
    First Castillo helps out the Mets by signing with the Phils to continue to drop flyballs for the Mets.
    Now Perez is gonna help the Mets by pitching for the Nats.
    I guess they do know how run an organization in New York.

    Reply
    • DiehardDbak

      14 years ago

      Hahaha, good point. Maybe he felt he still had to earn the 12mil somehow.

      Reply
    • The_Silver_Stacker

      14 years ago

      Knowing the Mets luck, Perez will dominate the Mets

      Reply
  25. Anthony

    14 years ago

    The Nats are now poised to make a World Series run!

    Just kidding, of course. All kidding aside, this deal isn’t all that bad. The Mets are eating most of his contracts and if he doesn’t pay off (and he won’t most likely) then not much was spent on him. Low risk, so why not? I highly doubt he will actually pitch for them but hey maybe he goes in the minors, spends a lot of time there, and actually beomces somewhat useful. I know his velocity is down but there surely he feels relieved to finally be somewhere else. Maybe the change of scenery can help. I don’t think this is a great move, but it’s an understandable one.

    Reply
  26. $4555515

    14 years ago

    god whoever compared the Daniel Cabrera deal to this deal needs to get off the drugs

    Daniel Cabrera was a major league deal and gave him somwhere between 2-3 million gurrenteed not to mention perez atleast has had some major league success back in the day

    even the penny pinching royals would would die of laughter at some of the comments posted here

    Reply
  27. Victor Kipp

    14 years ago

    If this is true…then I should get a minor league deal.

    Reply
  28. MB923

    14 years ago

    More likely to happen- Castillo has a 4 HR game against the Mets, or Ollie throws a perfect game against the Mets

    Would be great to see both

    Reply
  29. greggofboken

    14 years ago

    The reason this is a bad deal is that Perez brings with him an air of selfishness and entitlement, along with a lazy training regimen and a lack of perspective on himself that crosses the line into stupidity. (I don’t say that lightly or with intent to insult. I think it’s the unfortunate fact.) Were I the Nats I would not want him anywhere near young players.

    The Nats are developing a horrible reputation for employing clubhouse pariahs — from the now-departed Elijah Dukes, to the suddenly punkish Nyjer Morgan, now to the self-serving and obtuse Perez. That’s not a good reputation for the club to have.

    Beyond that, low-cost aside, is the blowback — both with the fanbase and their professional peers — a signing like this gives an organization straining to improve its credibility. It makes the organization seem foolish and clueless — not shrewd. Wang could be viewed as a gamble. This can only be viewed as a gaffe.

    Reply
    • Alexander_Brovechkin

      14 years ago

      The good part about the Rizzo regime is that they have shown no unwillingness to cut the negativity. They got rid of Milledge and Dukes, and if I understood DC media at all, they tried to get rid of Morgan but since he sucked last year, I guess there were no takers. Michael Burgess as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if they canned him if he starts whining.

      Reply
  30. Gumby65

    14 years ago

    Apparently the Nationals forgot that they are not supposed to suck anymore.

    Reply
  31. MichaelH

    14 years ago

    Not even Leo Mazzone could help Oliver Perez pitch better.

    Reply
  32. Motor_City_Bombshell

    14 years ago

    Am I the only one who actually kind of likes this deal? Low risk, potentially (some) reward.

    Reply
    • Tko11

      14 years ago

      You should be the only one…

      Reply
  33. Tko11

    14 years ago

    I wish something like this happened everyday so I can read all the funny comments. Too bad there is only one Oliver Perez.

    Reply
  34. Camden P

    14 years ago

    Not a bad move actually. If somehow he turns his career around and returns to 80% of what he once was it will look like a great move. If he continues to suck then oh well, the Nats don’t get burned bad at all.

    Reply
  35. Tom41

    14 years ago

    He refused to go to the minors for the Mets last year, and now he signs a minor league deal with another team. This guy’s IQ must be in the low double digits.

    Reply
  36. Tom41

    14 years ago

    He refused to go to the minors for the Mets last year, and now he signs a minor league deal with another team. This guy’s IQ must be in the low double digits.

    Reply
    • mr mojo risin

      14 years ago

      you mis-spelled ERA

      Reply
      • xhausted_grad

        14 years ago

        you misspelled misspell

        Reply
  37. Michael Brown

    14 years ago

    Hmm. Maybe he can teach Strasburg a thing or two about pitching…

    Reply
  38. fgsfsfbbbrd

    14 years ago

    Everyone…they signed him to pitch BP. Have any of you watched a batting practice? Mid 80mph fastballs are the norm, plus he’s going to help plate discipline because the Nats BP batters are going to see a lot more pitches off the plate/too far inside. Good move Nats’ hiring on intangibles.

    Reply
  39. Paul

    14 years ago

    I am waiting for the “Nationals no longer interested in Oliver Perez” article, even after signing him…

    Reply
  40. Keith Konetsky

    14 years ago

    hahahahahhah hes gonna get lit up even in the minors

    Reply

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