Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and his staff have done an excellent job this offseason attempting to resolve the flaws on a roster expected to challenge for a playoff berth. The team acquired pitcher Doug Fister to serve as their 4th starter, signed Nate McLouth to act as a backup outfielder, and traded for left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins and catcher Jose Lobaton to add roster depth. Now as spring training is in full swing and exhibition games are beginning, I think the Nationals should look to make one last roster upgrade this spring and sign free agent left-handed reliever Oliver Perez.
Once a dominant starting pitcher for the Pirates, Perez nearly fell out of baseball in 2011 before reinventing himself as a reliever under the tutelage of Nationals pitching coordinator Spin Williams. Perez signed with Seattle in 2012, and posted flashy numbers in relief, with a 2.12 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched.
Last season for the Mariners, Perez posted a 3.74 ERA with 74 strikeouts against 26 walks over 53 innings pitched, and was particularly effective against left-handed batters, holding them to a .238/.358/.288 batting line. Blessed with a 92mph fastball and a wipeout slider, his strikeout ability as a reliever allows him to overcome his below-average command.
The Nationals currently have quality depth in their relief corps, and the acquisition of Jerry Blevins earlier this off-season gives the team the lefty reliever coveted this winter. If Matt Williams wants to keep a second left-handed arm in the bullpen, he could look to Xavier Cedeno and Sammy Solis, amongst others. However, none of these options have the strikeout potential of Perez, and he could give the Nationals bullpen an interesting dimension they currently lack, a hard-throwing strikeout inducing left-handed reliever. Perez could prove to be a valuable weapon against the many quality left-handed hitters in the NL East.
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While the Nationals do not have a particular need for another reliever, the team has an opportunity to improve the roster with another quality pitcher in Perez at a potentially bargain price. Perez certainly entered the winter expecting a comparable hefty contract to other lefty relievers such as J.P. Howell (2yrs $11 million), Boone Logan (3yrs $16.5 million), or Javier Lopez (3yrs $13 million). For whatever reason Perez remains unsigned, and his rapidly declining leverage could make the Nationals a match on a 1-year contract.
If the Nationals can convince him to sign for less than $2 million dollars, perhaps with some incentives, Perez could be a shrewd addition to the relief corps late in the offseason. General manager Mike Rizzo is known to be fond of power arms in the bullpen, and the team would be wise to add Perez, if as Bob Barker would say, “The Price Is Right”.