PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates added another veteran left-hander to fill out their starting rotation, agreeing Monday with Martín Pérez on an $8 million, one-year deal.
The agreement with the 32-year-old, who won a World Series with Texas in November, is pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn’t final.
Pérez becomes the second left-handed starter to join Pittsburgh in recent weeks. The Pirates acquired Marco Gonzales from Atlanta for $100,000 on Dec. 5, a trade in which the Braves are sending Pittsburgh $9.25 million to cover most of the $12 million salary Gonzales is owed next season.
There is plenty of room in the rotation for the Pirates to add, with Mitch Keller the only surefire holdover from last year’s group after Johan Oviedo underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last month.
Pittsburgh is eyeing another step forward in 2024 after going 76-86 this season, a 15-win improvement over 2022 and the franchise’s best mark since 2018.
Pérez went 10-4 for the Rangers last season, going 10-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 35 games, 20 of them starts. He moved from the rotation to the bullpen in August and made three relief appearances in the playoffs – all in mop-up duty – as Texas won its first World Series title. His salary is less than half the $19.65 million he earned this year after accepting the Rangers’ qualifying
FILE – Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez works against a San Diego Padres batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game July 29, 2023, in San Diego. Perez agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
