Martin Perez’s rookie season impressed the Rangers enough that they’ve signed the 22-year-old left-hander to a long-term contract.
Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram reports that it’s a four-year deal worth $12.5 million in guaranteed money that also includes team options for 2018, 2019, and 2020. Perez was already under team control through 2018 anyway, so this pre-pays for the rest of his minimum-salaried and arbitration-eligible seasons while also giving the Rangers the ability to delay his free agency by two additional years.
It’s a lengthy commitment to a 22-year-old pitcher with all of 162 innings in the majors and Perez’s strikeout rate has been underwhelming since reaching Triple-A, but he’s long been considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and posted a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts as a rookie.