The Cleveland Indians could be ready to sell off a valuable piece of its bullpen, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels could be willing to listen.
Currently the 27-year-old closer for the Indians is on the 15-day DL with a strained rotator cuff, and is being replaced by Vinnie Pestano, a move that could have the Indians interested in moving Perez upon his return.
The Indians’ closer is making $7.3 million this season and is arbitration-eligible following the season. He is scheduled to hit free agency in 2015.
In 17 appearances Perez is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA and six saves. In 16-2/3 innings he has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits, posting a K:BB ratio of 1.80, which is down from the 3.69 he put up a year ago.
Brandon League isn’t getting the job done for the Dodgers, whose bullpen ranks 22nd in the Majors with a 4.14 ERA. While the team has had 22 save opportunities, it has converted just 13 of those. The ‘pen has lost 13 games as well, which is tied with the Houston Astros for the worst in the Majors. Back to League though. He was last year’s mid-season acquisition, and he fared well, earning himself a four-year/$27.5 million contract. But since signing that deal everything has fallen apart for the team with baseball’s highest payroll. If the Dodgers seek a new closer, Perez isn’t the guy. His career K:BB ratio is just a tad bit higher than that of League (2.22 to 2.15). Yeah he will strike out more hitters per nine innings (8.7 to 6.6), but he allows more home runs per nine (1.0 to 0.7), walks more batters (3.9 to 3.1). But the important thing is that he allows fewer hits than League does (6.8 to 8.4), but if he connects, expect it to go yard. A change of scenery to hitter-friendly Dodger Stadium could help tone those numbers down a bit.
Meanwhile, across town the Angels’ bullpen isn’t faring so well without Ryan Madson around to anchor things. Their bullpen ERA is just a hair worse than that of the Dodgers at 4.19, 24th in the game. They have converted 14 of 20 save opportunities. The Angels’ pen has thrown 171-2/3 innings, 10th in the Majors, and can grow to get tired and useless without some added help. With Madson out, Ernesto Frieri has resumed duties as the team’s closer. While he is quite the strikeout artist, he does walk his share of batters and would be better suited in the eighth inning for the Angels. Acquiring Perez would allow for the Halos to slot him into the closer’s role, and move Frieri back to the setup position he was meant to man down, while Downs goes over to the seventh inning. Prior to being acquired by the Angels last season, Frieri had never had any closing experience, but posted a 2.32 ERA in 56 appearances, convincing many within the organization to try him. But the home run rate is not impressive. While Perez will be prone to the long ball as well, his closing experience while with the Cardinals and Indians could translate to success with the Angels.
The verdict is that the Angels likely need Perez more than the Dodgers do. However, the Dodgers could very well slide Perez into a setup role, moving Kenley Jansen over to the seventh inning and giving Ronald Belisario a lesser role.
Still, the Indians stand at 29-24 and a half-game behind the Tigers for first place in the AL Central, and a full game behind the Yankees for the final wild card berth.
Two months stand between today and baseball’s trade deadline. Let this be the first of many rumors to pop up as this baseball season unfolds.
