Headlines

  • Mariners Designate Ken Giles For Assignment
  • Tigers Transfer Tarik Skubal To 60-Day Injured List
  • Orioles To Promote DL Hall
  • Michael Brantley Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
  • Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila
  • Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Indians Designate Oliver Perez For Assignment

By Steve Adams | April 28, 2021 at 9:50am CDT

The Indians have designated veteran lefty Oliver Perez for assignment in order to open a roster spot for righty Nick Wittgren, who has been reinstated from the paternity list, manager Terry Francona announced to reporters this morning (Twitter link via Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal).

It’s a bit of a surprising move, as Perez has pitched well for Cleveland dating back to 2018 and has yet to surrender a run in 3 2/3 innings this season. Francona, however, acknowledged that he’s had a difficult time finding opportunities to deploy Perez — perhaps a nod to the three-batter minimum rule that was implemented in 2020 and is rather limiting for lefty relievers of Perez’s nature. Perez has faced just six lefties in 2021, as opposed to a dozen right-handed batters. He’s done just fine against those right-handers, but as with most lefty relievers, Perez has a rather substantial platoon split over the course of his career.

Career platoon splits notwithstanding, Perez has reinvented himself after washing out as a starting pitcher back in 2010. The 39-year-old has a 3.42 ERA in 350 relief innings dating back to 2012, and he’s been particularly effective in Cleveland after a lackluster two-year run in Washington from 2016-17. In 94 2/3 frames with the Indians, Perez has pitched to a 2.57 ERA (3.22 SIERA) with a strong 28.5 percent strikeout rate against a similarly impressive 6.8 percent walk rate. Lefties have posted a pitiful .203/.254/.297 line through 197 plate appearances against him in that time, but Perez has also held righties to a relatively tepid .220/.306/.341 slash through 186 plate appearances.

Given that recent track record and an affordable base salary of $1.25MM, it’s quite possible that Perez will draw interest from another club — be it via a minor trade or a waiver claim. Were he to go unclaimed on waivers, he’d be eligible to reject any outright assignment in favor of free agency. In that scenario, a new club would only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the MLB roster, with Cleveland on the hook for the remainder of the contract.

Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

Cleveland Guardians Transactions Oliver Perez

Yankees Reducing Gary Sanchez’s Playing Time
Main
Brewers Designate Phil Bickford For Assignment
View Comments (59)

Comments

  1. myaccount

    1 year ago

    Strange. He was solid last season and is off to a good start this season.

    Reply
    • tribepride17

      1 year ago

      Somewhat surprising but the Indians bullpen is really deep and Tito couldn’t find ways to get him into games at all this season. 3.2 innings in almost a month of baseball. Sam Hentges coming up and looking promising was the end of Perez.

      Reply
      • myaccount

        1 year ago

        Makes sense. I’ll be curious to see if they’re able to find a taker for him or if he’s simply released. Either way, I expect him back in the bigs soon.

        Reply
        • Polish Hammer

          1 year ago

          Says he’s been designated for assignment, so he’s done in Cleveland. Shame too as he’s been a great addition, especially back when he first showed up and salvaged the season that was crashing at that time.

        • Polish Hammer

          1 year ago

          Also, by being DFAd he’s taken off the 40 man roster and they now only have 39. Logan Allen was sent down so he could’ve been kept around had they known Allen would get shelled again. They’d need somebody to take his spot in the rotation which will probably be Quantrill, but if the bumped Hentges up Ollie could’ve kept his spot in the ‘pen.

      • hiflew

        1 year ago

        It wasn’t that Tito couldn’t find way to get him into games. It is that Tito CHOSE not to use him. These lefty relievers were not “LOOGYs” because they could only pitch to lefty hitters, they were “LOOGYs” because managers chose to deploy them that way. Oliver Perez has been getting right handed batters out for his entire career. But managers are now conditioned to adhere only to the lefty-lefty matchups. Shame that it cost a quality veteran like Perez his job..

        Reply
        • TheMichigan

          1 year ago

          I mean I don’t think it’s going to cost Perez his job. He’s going to find a way into another major league pen.

          The game is very analytical, even though Perez has gotten righties out, and continues to do so, he is more effective against lefties, and most lefties struggle against left handers specifically due to the lack of lefties as they grow as baseball hitters. Games just becoming more analytical.

        • hiflew

          1 year ago

          It might not cost him his career, but it did cost him his job. He is soon to be no longer employed by the Indians. If you get fired from Wal Mart and get a job at Target the next week, you still lost your job. Getting a new one is irrelevant.

  2. Rangers29

    1 year ago

    Yankees could’ve easily waited a day for their lefty reliever lol.

    Reply
    • lordd99

      1 year ago

      Only if he can be optioned. He can’t.

      Reply
    • Polish Hammer

      1 year ago

      Funny that Cleveland got him from the Yanks when they wouldn’t promote him from AAA.

      Reply
  3. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    something funny here. would like to see him in Philly.

    Reply
    • Rbase

      1 year ago

      he still has enough left so would be a nice pickup

      Reply
  4. antone

    1 year ago

    The Jamie Moyer of the 21st century probably still has some life left.

    Reply
    • hiflew

      1 year ago

      Since he pitched until 2012, wasn’t Jamie Moyer the “Jamie Moyer of the 21st century?”

      Reply
  5. Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)

    1 year ago

    He’s getting a job easily

    Reply
    • lordd99

      1 year ago

      No doubt. He’s still effective.

      Reply
  6. jbigz12

    1 year ago

    He makes 3x the league minimum! You think Dolan wants to pay that?!?!!

    Reply
    • CKinSTL

      1 year ago

      It is truly amazing how people use the “cheap owner’ narrative in every single move a team makes..

      Reply
  7. Diatribefan

    1 year ago

    They misspelled Bauers. Perez has actual value. If he’s not a loogy as evidence of his success against right handers, the 3 batter minimum is not a valid argument.

    Reply
  8. Bosox Boonie

    1 year ago

    Would be an excellent waiver pickup to replace Josh Taylor, who has been terrible.

    Reply
    • Diatribefan

      1 year ago

      He would be an excellent pick up for any team.

      Reply
      • Bosox Boonie

        1 year ago

        It has to make sense for the team. Perez doesn’t have options, and some teams don’t have luxury tax space or 40-man space. He’s an excellent fit for the Red Sox, who 1) get an early crack at him in the waiver claim order based on 2020 standings, 2) have sufficient salary space, 3) have no one else on their 40-man to be a second lefty reliever behind Darwinzon, and 4) have a DFA candidate in Taylor, who isn’t getting any better as the month goes on.

        Reply
        • DarkSide830

          1 year ago

          he’s making just over $1 million and can probably be dealt away if you find you dont need him. shouldnt be a lux issue.

        • deweybelongsinthehall

          1 year ago

          He’ll be traded but does it go by last year still? When does this year’s record determine the order?

        • mattynokes

          1 year ago

          2021 standings come into effect for waivers on the 31st day of the season (May 1 in 2021), so it’s possible that they hold off on putting him through waivers until Saturday.

        • looiebelongsinthehall

          1 year ago

          Thank you Marty.

        • deweybelongsinthehall

          1 year ago

          Matty

  9. Raúl Paz

    1 year ago

    Heading for the Reds

    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      1 year ago

      You didn’t finish your thought…RedsOX. There. Boonie makes a pretty strong case and the BoSox choose much earlier.

      Reply
  10. whormongr

    1 year ago

    I would not be surprised to see farhan kick the tires on this – veteran reliever on the cheap and the giants just traded a guy out of the pen because of the instability
    –

    Reply
  11. CKinSTL

    1 year ago

    I wonder if this means Hentges is sticking with the club..

    Reply
    • tribepride17

      1 year ago

      I think it certainly does. He’s their only lefty and has been impressive so far. The Indians may be a flawed team but that bullpen is looking elite.

      Reply
      • Michael Chaney

        1 year ago

        They have Kyle Nelson as another lefty but today was the first time he’s pitched this year

        Reply
  12. Mrtwotone

    1 year ago

    He would be great help for the abysmal Atlanta bullpen.

    Reply
  13. Johhos

    1 year ago

    Phillies!!!!!

    Reply
    • Jersey609

      1 year ago

      I would love them to pick him up definitely be great for them plus I love watching him pitch

      Reply
  14. deweybelongsinthehall

    1 year ago

    With the number of pitchers on a team today, you can’t find a spot? Game is getting worse each season. While pitching changed lengthen the game, a loogy goes back decades. I’d take him in a minute to have for a two out situation against a Big Papi type lefty that won’t get pulled with the season on the line.

    Reply
  15. The Baseball Fan (Doesn’t like the Cubs)

    1 year ago

    He probably wants to retire, that’s the only solid explanation. Other than that, I’m scratching my head

    Reply
  16. joew

    1 year ago

    i’d say 10% chance it happens but…

    Pirates are doing rather well with some holes in pitching mostly. Oliver as a fair quality low cost both in prospects and money to give a bit of cover for the starters and pen also some veteran support for the pitching staff.. that alone would be enough for me to inquire.

    if it works it works.. if it doesn’t well no huge deal.

    Granted the Pirates pen has been pretty decent so…

    but if other teams are semi-serious about him then would probably drive the ‘price’ up too far for a team that maybe over performing and rebuilding, will probably regress in the next few weeks.

    Reply
    • Mendoza Line 215

      1 year ago

      The first game that I ever saw in Heinz field Perez started.
      In 2004.
      The Pirates got him from the Padres with Jason Bay for Brian Giles.
      They now only have one lefty,Sam Howard,in the bullpen.
      Grab him now,let him pitch,and if advisable send him to a contender at the trading deadline.
      I guess it would have been easy to do when the Pirates had the worst record in baseball.

      Reply
      • joew

        1 year ago

        Wouldn’t that be PNC park not Heinz?

        right on, since there are a couple competitors doing worse (right now) i don’t see him passing through the AL to the pirates in waivers..

        The only major drawback to doing so is that he takes innings from the younger class.

        Reply
        • Mendoza Line 215

          1 year ago

          Joew-I have an iron sign in modified German saying we get too soon old and too late smart.It is applicable to me naming the stadium.
          I doubt very much that the Pirates are going to keep this up but I would be happy if they are competitive.They need a couple more hitters and starters to be able to do so though.
          Other than than the NL West it seems that all divisions are competitive.
          I do understand about Perez taking innings away from someone but as you know in modern baseball the pitchers do not last very long and you can never have too many.
          Thanks for nicely correcting my stupidity.

  17. Michael Chaney

    1 year ago

    Kind of surprising that they didn’t just send Kyle Nelson back down to the alternate site

    Reply
  18. Indiansjoe

    1 year ago

    I was assuming hentges would be sent down to stretch back out, with so much dead outfield weight on the roster it’s sad to see a useful person go. But that’s tribe issues, lots of decent pitchers, not enough hitters. Still rather seen Bauers, Gamel and hedges gone first, I understand they play different positions, but they all suck and Perez was still useful and a great clubhouse leader for the pen

    Reply
  19. Phantomofdb

    1 year ago

    Twins should just bring him across the field and throw him in their pen. He can’t be any worse than anything else they’ve been throwing out there

    Reply
  20. jdgoat

    1 year ago

    It’s kind of funny that a guy who has 195 career starts, where he was expected to get a large majority of the outs, is now the victim of a three batter minimum rule.

    Reply
    • Polish Hammer

      1 year ago

      Not really, he’s proven that isn’t a factor with him. That said, the rule is ridiculous; if a manager wants to handcuff a roster with wasting roster spots on specialists then let him. You get a roster limit to fill out to your liking, if you want to waste those spots on a pinch running specialist, late inning catcher that can’t hit, outfielder that has a cannon for an arm but nothing else, and/or the LOOGY then have at. It. To keep tinkering with the rules is just ridiculous.

      Reply
  21. hiflew

    1 year ago

    Rockies could use him. They only have one lefty in the pen and he has options remaining and an ERA of almost 10.

    Reply
  22. Bill M

    1 year ago

    The 3 batter minimum rule is causing many left handed relievers to retire. Of course, you can make the argument that their careers would not have been so long in the first place. But I wouldn’t be surprised if the PA addresses this in the CBA. It may be modified or tossed out. Personally, I don’t like it. I always enjoyed the managerial chess game, especially in the NL

    Reply
    • joew

      1 year ago

      +1 agreed. I get the idea they’re going for, but instead of 3 batter.. 15-20 pitches makes more sense to me.

      If a reliever is going much more than that in 3 batters then it could be longer than just swapping relievers

      of course…. that’s just my opinion man

      Reply
  23. OIC2021

    1 year ago

    I’m still waiting for Francona to come clean about Mickey Calloway instead of hiding behind MLB

    Reply
    • Polish Hammer

      1 year ago

      And his comments on the PED users like Manny and Big Papi but it’s been almost 20 years now…

      Reply
  24. Tom1968

    1 year ago

    All you mets fans never thought he would still be here in 2021

    Reply
  25. bighiggy

    1 year ago

    Wish the cards would trade andrew Miller for him, hes honestly been a ton better at a fraction of the cost

    Reply
  26. hdtrip

    1 year ago

    Phillies, Phillies, Phillies

    Reply
  27. RJNarvick

    1 year ago

    Hamilton cut by tribe now late inning TLR special for White Sox. Can it happen twice? Unfortunately Cleveland will probably find a taker via trade before he’s released.

    Reply
  28. OIC2021

    1 year ago

    This was purely a service time issue to get Kyle Nelson on the staff.

    Reply
    • mattynokes

      1 year ago

      That would make sense, however, Nelson entered the year with 0.022 service. Based on when he was called up (if he sticks around for the entire year) he’d have 161 days this year, so it wouldn’t save any team control.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Mariners Designate Ken Giles For Assignment

    Tigers Transfer Tarik Skubal To 60-Day Injured List

    Orioles To Promote DL Hall

    Michael Brantley Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

    Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila

    Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture

    Braves Select Top Prospect Vaughn Grissom, Activate Kirby Yates

    2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition

    Tim Anderson Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Torn Ligament In Hand

    Blue Jays Sign Jackie Bradley Jr., Designate Matt Peacock

    Chris Sale Fractures Wrist, Will Miss Remainder Of Season

    Cubs To Release Jason Heyward At End Of Season

    Cubs Claim Franmil Reyes From Guardians

    Fernando Tatis Jr. To Begin Rehab Assignment

    Rockies Claim Dinelson Lamet, Designate Ashton Goudeau

    Cubs Release Andrelton Simmons

    Alex Kirilloff To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

    Guardians Designate Franmil Reyes For Assignment

    Justin Verlander Reaches 130 Innings Pitched, Vests 2023 Player Option

    Red Sox Release Jackie Bradley Jr.

    Recent

    Rockies Designate Jordan Sheffield For Assignment

    Mariners Designate Ken Giles For Assignment

    Tigers Transfer Tarik Skubal To 60-Day Injured List

    Orioles To Promote DL Hall

    Marlins Outright Billy Hamilton

    Michael Brantley Undergoes Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery

    Big Hype Prospects: Chourio, De La Cruz, Harrison, Tovar, Tiedemann

    Mets Hoping To Retain Brandon Nimmo

    Ricketts: Cubs “Making Progress” In Rebuild, Plan To Be “Active” In Free Agency

    Braves Place Max Fried On Concussion-Related Injured List

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Cubs Decline To Trade Contreras, Happ
    • Giants Keep Rodon, Pederson
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version