Rangers agree to terms with LHP Rafael Perez on minor league contract with invitation to major league spring training
Longtime Cleveland pitcher last appeared in majors in 2012
The Texas Rangers announced this afternoon that the club has agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Rafael Perez on a minor league contract for 2014 with an invitation to the team's major league spring training camp.
Perez, 31, pitched for minor league affiliates in the Minnesota and Boston organizations last season, going a combined 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA (10 ER/34.2 IP) and 6 saves over 29 relief appearances with Rochester (AAA) and Portland (AA). After the season, Perez posted a 1.69 ERA (3 ER/16.0 IP) over 21 relief outings with the Gigantes in the Dominican Winter League. He is still pitching for the Gigantes in the Dominican playoffs, compiling a 2.31 ERA (3 ER/11.2 IP) spanning 8 appearances with no unintentional walks against 11 strikeouts. He earned the win in his last outing on Thursday at Licey.
Perez has a 21-12 record with 3 saves and a 3.64 ERA (133 ER/329.0 IP) over 338 career appearances in the major leagues, all in relief with Cleveland from 2006-12. He made at least 70 appearances for the Tribe in 3 of 4 years from 2008-11, and his 71 games in 2011 ranked T2nd in the American League. He also had 6 postseason outings for the Indians in 2007.