Reds trade for LHP Cionel Pérez from Astros

January 23rd, 2021

CINCINNATI -- The Reds made another pitching addition on Saturday when they acquired left-handed reliever in a trade with the Astros for Minor League catcher Luke Berryhill.

Pérez is not related to Friday’s pitching acquisition, Hector Perez, from the Blue Jays. Cincinnati has 37 players on its 40-man roster.

Houston originally signed Cionel Pérez out of Cuba for $5.15 million in 2016, which was an international signing record for the club at the time, but the contract was voided over concerns about his physical. He ended up signing later for $2 million but didn’t find sustained success with that organization.

Pérez, 24, is 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 15 walks and 27 strikeouts over 26 2/3 innings in 20 big league games with Houston over parts of three seasons.

Over three Minor League seasons, the 5-foot-11 Pérez was 16-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 58 games (40 starts). He’s largely been used as a front-of-the-bullpen pitcher, or called up when Houston needed a fresh arm.

In 2020, Pérez had a 2.84 ERA in seven appearances, but he also had a lackluster 2.05 WHIP.