The Yankees have released veteran lefty Oliver Perez, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com (via Twitter). He had joined the organization on a minors deal right at the start of the season after spending spring camp with the Reds.
Perez, 36, received a June 1st opt-out date by virtue of being an Article XX(B) free agent. He spent the past two years with the Nationals, making 114 appearances but throwing only 73 total innings of 4.81 ERA ball with 10.5 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9.
Thus far in 2018, Perez has allowed just four earned runs in his 12 1/3 frames at Triple-A. He has recorded 13 strikeouts against three walks in that span. While there wasn’t an opening for him in the New York pen, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the 15-year MLB veteran sign on with another organization that has a greater opportunity available.
I wonder why trades for opt-out guys performing well isn’t more common. Chances are good that Perez probably sticks somewhere, perhaps Yankees could’ve gotten some cash or a PTBNL?
Because every body knows he’ll be a free agent why waste cash or a ptbnl
Like Edwin Jackson (who’s 34), Can’t believe Perez is only 36.
Yankees’ bullpen is too deep to call him up. Good luck to him.
He will will find a job somewhere, xabial. As long as his new team understands that Ollie is pure LOOGY and cannot face RHB if the game is still winnable he should be OK. He wasn’t terrible for the Nats, his numbers were inflated by Dusty’s usage, he’s just indistinguishable from a dozen other guys.
Pure LOOGY? Looking over his splits, they are not that bad and don’t scream strictly a LOOGY IMO.
I remember him as a rookie in San Diego
I was in attendance for Oliver Perez’s MLB debut against my Seattle Mariners on Father’s Day 2002 at old Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego:
baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200206160.shtm…
In that game Perez faced Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer, who is now 55 years old.
The Mariners could use Perez as a replacement for Marc Rzepczynski.
sweet memory dude
Sox could use him… they’re really lacking a solid LH reliever! I think a couple decent ones have been released this week. Repcyinski (totally blew the spelling there but anyway) also got recently released. I’d like to see the Sox give one of them a chance
CLE needs to be all over this.
No thanks. As much as I’ve said the Indians need to be all over any reliever with a pulse, he’s the exception. I always felt like Tito used LOOGYs too often against righties (Rzepczynski comes to mind), and I’d rather have someone more versatile.
Well.. he’s with the Indians now. He’s from my hometown in MX and I live in Cleveland so I cared about it enough to search deeply into this. The team he belongs to in the Mexican winter league just made the announcement this morning. I don’t believe he’s right for the team, but I’m excited to welcome him here!
I can’t believe he is still around
Ollie remarked, “Omar called to see if I would come back. For a minute I considered it until I heard the other idiots from the front office whispering. I confronted them and Jeff pleaded as I would t cost them much. I’d rather retire.”
When I read this article I immediately went to my Oliver Perez Pirates bobble head from 2005 and said, “Are you STILL actually playing Major League Baseball?!!!” It nodded yes and dropped the mic. I have no words. ;)
The Mets could use him! Oh god could you imagine