Chrs Perez could be traded this off-season
A week after Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez sparked controversy when he criticized team owner Larry Dolan’s commitment to putting a winning product on the field, team officials remain “livid” with the 27-year-old right-hander, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.
A contender in the first half of the season, Cleveland is 59-81 and has the second-worst record in the American League, one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers are 73-66 and two games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central.
“Different owners,” Perez said, speaking about Cleveland’s Dolan and Detroit’s Mike Ilitch. “It comes down to that. They (the Tigers) are spending money. He (Ilitch) wants to win. Even when the economy was down (in Detroit), he spent money. He’s got a team to show for it. You get what you pay for in baseball. Sometimes you don’t. But most of the time you do.”
Jordan Bastian, who covers the Indians for MLB.com, speculates that the closer will be traded this off-season because of his comments. Perez, who is getting $4.5 million in 2012 and is eligible for arbitration once again this off-season, is under team control through 2014.
Perez, who was critical of Indians fans earlier this season, is 0-4 with a 3.62 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and a .220 opponent’s batting average in 2012. He has 35 saves in 39 opportunities, and 57 strikeouts and 11 walks in 49.2 innings.
A supplemental first rounder by St. Louis out of the University of Miami in 2006, Perez spent 2008 and part of 2009 with the Cardinals until he was traded to Cleveland for Mark DeRosa. He posted a 1.71 ERA and 23 saves in his first full season with the Indians in 2010, and regressed last year with a 3.32 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 59.2 innings, though he did save 36 games in 40 chances and limited hitters to a .215 average.
