PHILADELPHIA -- Martín Pérez passed through waivers, rejected an outright assignment, became a free agent, signed a Minor League deal and then was slotted right back in the same rotation spot he had been in before the Braves initially designated him for assignment on Sunday.
“It worked,” a smiling Austin Riley said after backing Pérez’s six scoreless innings with a pair of homers in a 9-0 win over the Phillies on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.
But how did Pérez react to being DFA’d?
“I was not happy with the decision, but it is what it is, man,” Pérez said. “They needed guys for the bullpen, and they had to open a spot for some.”
With so many teams needing starting pitchers, it was certainly a gamble. But like so many other things lately, it went the Braves' way.
Atlanta leads the Majors in runs scored (115) and ERA (2.78). The offense has thrived despite a slow start from Riley, who now appears to be heating up. His opposite-field homer off Phillies starter Taijuan Walker was his second homer within a span of four at-bats going back to Wednesday’s win over the Marlins. He added his second with a solo shot in the ninth.
As for the starting rotation, it has proven to be stronger than anyone could have imagined with four starters currently on the injured list. These injuries created an opportunity for Pérez, who has a 2.21 ERA through his first four appearances (three starts).
“It’s early,” Pérez said. “It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. We just have to stay together and never give up, because it's a long season.”
Like the Braves, the Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning. But Pérez escaped that jam by striking out Edmundo Sosa and getting J.T. Realmuto to fly out. Bryce Harper was also left stranded after recording a one-out triple in the third.
Pérez retired 11 of the final 13 batters he faced and limited the Phillies to just four hits. The 35-year-old veteran has been effective in each of his first four appearances of the season.
“He’s a pro, and he's still really good,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He can still really pitch. He pitched really well last year, and he's off to a great start this year. I’m so glad we got him.”
So why did the Braves DFA Pérez after he limited the Guardians to two hits and one run over five innings on Saturday?
Well, Tyler Kinley, Aaron Bummer and Osvaldo Bido each pitched in the first two games of the Cleveland series. So, they were unavailable for Sunday’s series finale. As was José Suarez, who had thrown 31 pitches on Friday.
Each of those pitchers was available during this week’s three-game series against the Marlins. Pérez wouldn’t have been available before this series opener in Philadelphia.
So, the Braves called up Dylan Dodd, who promptly aided the bullpen by throwing three innings after Chris Sale exited Sunday’s win over the Guardians. To create a spot for Dodd, Atlanta DFA’d Pérez with the hope his $3.5 million salary would deter teams from claiming him off waivers.
Once Pérez cleared waivers, he rejected an outright assignment that would have forced him to remain in the Minors for 15 days. His election to become a free agent was a procedural move that set up the chance to sign a Minor League deal and then ultimately return to Atlanta’s rotation as if nothing had changed over the past week.
Pérez spent the days of uncertainty with his wife and kids at the Atlanta home he is renting. He continued to throw, and he at least thought about some offers before deciding it was best to stick with the Braves.
Whether Pérez remains in the rotation or possibly becomes a long reliever when Spencer Strider returns from the injured list in a couple of weeks remains to be seen. But there’s no doubt his extended presence has made a big impact on Atlanta’s early success.
“I’m glad to be back,” Pérez said.