Report: Nationals agree to 2-year deal with Oliver Perez
The Washington Nationals reportedly added a seasoned left-hander to their bullpen Friday afternoon, agreeing to a two-year, $7-million deal with Oliver Perez, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.
Perez, who turned 34 in August, split the 2015 campaign between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros, crafting a 4.17 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP in 70 appearances. Despite playing for three teams in the last four seasons, Perez has been one of the league's more dominant left-handers since moving to the bullpen permanently in 2012, posting a 28.5 percent strikeout rate over that span.
| Season | ERA | K% | BB% | HR/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2.12 | 19.5% | 8.1% | 0.3 |
| 2013 | 3.74 | 32.3% | 11.4% | 1.02 |
| 2014 | 2.91 | 29.7% | 9.4% | 0.77 |
| 2015 | 4.17 | 27.9% | 8.2% | 0.88 |
The Nationals' bullpen did a fine job neutralizing left-handed hitters in 2015, but its primary left-handed option, Matt Thornton, is eligible to sign elsewhere as a free agent. Perez, who held lefties to a .517 OPS last season, will likely be called upon against tough left-handed hitters, while also serving as a bridge to setup man Drew Storen and closer Jonathan Papelbon.