Texas Rangers make first post-lockout splash reuniting with Martin Perez

Martin Perez and the Texas Rangers have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal that’s worth $4 million, according to insiders Jon Heyman and Evan Grant.

Texas Rangers make first move after the lockout, signing veteran lefty Martin Perez

Perez played last season for the Boston Red Sox and went 7-8 with a ERA of 4.74 on 114 innings pitched with 97 strikeouts.

The veteran lefty heads back to where his career began, in Texas. He was previously on the Rangers from 2012-2018 and in that time, he went 43-49 an ERA of 4.63 on 761.1 innings pitched with 462 strikeouts. The biggest year of his career also came with the Rangers as it was during the 2017 season in which he recorded 13 wins along with 115 strikeouts. Of Perez’s 10-year career, he has recorded at least 10+ wins in four seasons, with three of them coming in a Rangers uniform.

The signing of Perez means that the Rangers will have some depth in the starting rotation as he gives them some quality innings in the back of their rotation while they have sights on the 2023 season to return to contention. Perez joins Jon Gray as the two major pitching additions Texas had made this off-season to date.

Both Perez and the Rangers know each other really well and he can help bring a veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Right from the gun, the Texas Rangers continue to be busy in fee agency with the lockout now over and they look to pick up where they left off, by being aggressive.

In general, adding Martin Perez is a nice pickup for their roster. He’s not the flashiest name or the most exciting option, but depth is always a necessity and his prior familiarity with the organization couldn’t have hurt his chances of returning to Arlington.

Now we’re on watch for another lefty…