Martin Perez, a veteran left-hander, and the Texas Rangers are planning a reunion.
According to someone familiar with the matter, Perez and the Rangers have reached terms on a one year contract. The agreement was not finalized while Perez was undergoing a physical. Unidentified sources claim Perez will make $4 million if he returns to his old big league team.
Perez was a 16-year old international free agent from Venezuela who Texas signed in July 2007. He made his big-league debut with Texas in 2012. Perez was signed by Texas in July 2007 as an international free agent at 16 years old. He made his big-league debut in 2012.
The deal was made on the first day of the MLB lockout. It came after the Rangers had spent $561.2 million on free agency for four players in the 99-day MLB shutdown that began Dec. 2. This included half-billion dollar payments for Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, middle infielders.
The Rangers signed All-Star shortstop Seager ($325m, 10 years) as well as Gold Glove second baseman Semien ($175m, seven years). They also completed pre-lockout agreements with Jon Gray, starting pitcher ($56m, four years) & Kole Calhoun, outfielder ($5.2 million), one year. These Texas newcomers were announced Dec. 1.
Gray and Dane Dunning (a former first-round pick of Washington, acquired in the Rangers’ December 2020 trade for Lance Lynn to Chicago White Sox) appear to be their only guaranteed starter spots.
Perez will be 31 days old on April 8. Texas’ regular season begins in April 8th. He has played in 191 of his 221 career major league games. Perez started 22 games last year and was relieved in 14 more. He went 7-8 with a 4.74 ERA.
Over seven major-league seasons, the lefty had a 43-49 record and a 4.63 ERA (141 games) He threw a record-setting 198 2-3 innings and was 10-11 in 33 career-high Texas starts in 2016. Then, he set a new career record for wins at 13-12 with a 4.82 ERA from 32 starts the following year.
In his first season with the Twins, he was 10-7 and had a 5.12 ERA.
