MLB Trade Rumors: Houston Astros Acquire Oliver Perez
It’s hot in Texas and the scorching hot Houston Astros are continuing to make upgrades as the team has acquired left-handed reliever Oliver Perez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jack Magruder, a Diamondbacks beat writer, was first in reporting the trade and Chris Cotillo of SB Nation confirmed the deal.
#Dbscks just traded Oliver Perez to Astros.
— Jack Magruder (@JackMagruder) August 8, 2015
The exact return the Diamondbacks will receive for Perez will be minor-league left-handed pitcher Junior Garcia.
Perez deal announced. LHP Junior Garcia goes to Arizona.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 8, 2015
Perez, 33, figures to help the the Astros’ bullpen as they try and hold onto their two-game lead in the American League West over the Los Angeles Angels. Thus far in 2015, Perez has pitched to a 3.10 ERA through 29 innings (48 games) for the Diamondbacks.
He has been especially effective against left-handed hitters this season, as he’s kept same-sided batters to a .183 batting average against him. The Astros will hope that Perez can find the same success in Houston while helping the team reach the postseason.
In what was once thought as a failed career, Perez has been able to revive himself by becoming an effective reliever. Once a 15-game winner for the Mets as a starter, Perez appeared to fizzle out after signing a three-year, $36 million contract with the Mets prior to the 2009 season.
His always erratic control got worse and several injuries did not help the cause. All told, through just two seasons (2009-2010) of his deal, Perez posted a record of 3-9 with an unsightly 6.81 ERA over 112-and-one-third frames.
The Mets released Perez after the 2010 season, severing ties with likely one of the most ill-advised contracts in franchise history.
However, Perez got back on track as a reliever, starting with the Seattle Mariners in 2012. He posted a 2.93 ERA through 94 total games with Seattle in his two seasons as a Mariner. He would stay out west, latching on with the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the 2014 season — then going on to post an almost exact ERA from his time in Seattle, 2.91.
The Astros have made several moves to improve the team for the home stretch. While Perez is a nice additional piece, the Astros’ big acquisitions were outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Scott Kazmir and Mike Fiers.
All of those trades transpired just prior to the non-waiver trade deadline last week.
As for the struggling Diamondbacks, they receive the 19-year-old left-hander Garcia. In nine games between Rookie Ball and short-season Single-A, Garcia has posted a 3-1 record with a 0.96 ERA. He debuted in the minors in 2013 and has not pitched above short-season Single-A.
As humorously noted by Cotillo, with three big trades taking place after the non-waiver trade deadline, all hours apart, perhaps the non-waiver trade deadline is not that big a deal.
That’s three trades in 24 hours. The trade deadline is a myth.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) August 8, 2015
[Image by Mike Stobe/Getty Images]
