Martin

Perez

Pérez joins the ever-expanding free agent pool after pocketing a $1.5 million buyout from the White Sox. The 34-year-old journeyman southpaw missed most of last season due to a flexor strain in his elbow. He can be safely ignored in most fantasy formats regardless of where he winds up as a back-end rotation filler.

Pérez’s season is over. The 34-year-old was removed from Wednesday’s start due to the shoulder issue, and he finishes 2025 with a a 3.54 ERA over 56 innings. The left-hander should see interest on the free-agent market, assuming good health.

The positive news here is that Pérez’s early departure isn’t elbow-related after missing nearly four months earlier this season with a flexor strain. The 34-year-old southpaw is most likely done for the season, even if the issue winds up being relatively minor. He was charged with three runs over 3 2/3 innings before departing Wednesday afternoon’s matinee against Baltimore.

Pérez allowed three runs on five hits before leaving with trainers. The left-hander has pitched well this year, but there’s a good chance that even if this injury isn’t significant, his season is over. There should be an update on Pérez’s status shortly.

Pérez gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three. The 34-year-old left-hander bounced back after allowing six runs against the Tigers in his last outing. Pérez has now allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts. He has a 3.27 ERA and 42/20 K/BB ratio in 52 1/3 innings this year. Pérez is lined up to face the Orioles at home next week.

The 34-year-old southpaw also issued three walks on the evening and didn’t record a single strikeout. He served up a leadoff home run to Jahmai Jones to start the game, then kept the Tigers’ offense at bay until they struck for five runs in the fourth inning — the final three on a three-run shot by Gleyber Torres. Pérez generated just one swing and miss on 89 pitches on the night, posting a laughable CSW of only 18 percent. He’ll look to get back on track as he brings a 3.15 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and a 39/18 K/BB ratio (45 2/3 innings) into Friday’s showdown against the Guardians in Cleveland.

Pérez struck out seven. He has a stunning 1.25 ERA in four outings since coming off the injured list. We certainly wouldn’t recommend grabbing him in mixed leagues, but he always has had a knack for surprising when expectations were lowest. He’ll get the Tigers next.

The 34-year-old southpaw allowed just one hit on the night — a leadoff single to Bobby Witt Jr. to open the fourth inning — and didn’t walk a batter, though he did plunk one. Pérez was so dominant in this start that no member of the Royals even reached second base against him. He piled up 10 swings and misses on 85 pitches on the night — five on his changeup — while posting a CSW of 32 percent. He left the game with a comfortable 4-0 lead, but the White Sox bullpen couldn’t hang on to get him a well-deserved victory. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling as he totes a 2.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 32/13 K/BB ratio (35 2/3 innings) into Sunday’s showdown against the Yankees.

Pérez did his part in this one as a fielding error by shortstop Colson Montgomery on a slow chopper from Ozzie Albies allowed the lone run of the contest for either side to cross the plate with two outs in the fourth inning. He struck out five and didn’t hand out a free pass. He’ll square off against the Royals on Tuesday his next time out.

Burke loses his spot after getting removed in the fourth inning of each of his last two starts. He was 4-10 with a respectable 4.28 ERA in 117 2/3 innings for the White Sox, and there’s a good chance he’ll return to the rotation in September. For now, Martín Pérez figures to get the spot.