Nationals sign Odalis Perez to minor league deal
UPDATE (2-19-08; 1:58 PM): The Nationals have signed Odalis Perez to a non-guaranteed minor league contract. His contract will pay him $850,000 if he were to make the team. He received a similar offer from the Boston Red Sox, but he felt he’d have a better chance at making the roster if he went with the Nationals offer.
“He will have an opportunity to compete for a spot in our rotation. He gives us depth to protect us against injuries and also gives us depth so we are not forced to rush our young starters if they’re not ready. Will he come back to his form of a few years ago? Not sure, but with Manny, Randy [St. Claire] and Jose Rijo, if there is a chance of bouncing back at this young age, this is the environment for him to do it in,” said Nationals general manager Jim Bowden on the signing.
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Always in search of pitching, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden has “expressed serious interest” in left handed pitcher Odalis Perez.
After going 8-11 with a 5.57 ERA in 26 starts for the Royals a year ago, it’s still not clear as to whether the team will sign him to a major league or minor league deal.
If signed, Perez would get every chance to win the last spot in the Nationals rotation. John Patterson, Shawn Hill, Jason Bergmann and Matt Chico figure to be the first four members of the Nationals rotation, with Tim Redding, Tyler Clippard and John Lannan fighting for the final spot. With injury questions always surrounding Patterson and Hill, a host of starters in the Nationals organization is never a bad thing.
Filed under: Odalis Perez, Washington Nationals