Oliver

Perez

Pérez has been officially released by the Diamondbacks after being designated for assignment earlier this week. The 40-year-old veteran left-hander heads to free agency after allowing nine runs (seven earned) over four innings in seven relief appearances.

Is this the end of the line for the 40-year-old? Pérez reportedly was ready to retire but wound up signing a minor league deal with Arizona and made their Opening Day roster. However, he’s been pummeled for nine runs -- seven earned -- over four innings, resulting in his removal from the roster. Tyler Gilbert has been recalled to take Pérez’s roster spot.

Perez is fifth in appearances among active pitchers, though since 195 of those 700 appearances were starts, he’s thrown far more innings than the guys ahead of him on the list (Joe Smith, Tyler Clippard, Sergio Romo and Kenley Jansen). He’s allowed three runs in three innings this season.

Pérez tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings this spring in the Cactus League to secure a spot on the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster after signing a minor league contract last month. The 40-year-old left-hander, who plans to retire at the end of the season, is back for a 20th year in the majors.

So much for retirement. Pérez announced last month that he planned to retire at the conclusion of the upcoming Mexican League season. Apparently, he’ll throw in a brief stop in Arizona along the way. The 40-year-old southpaw will compete this spring for a spot in the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day bullpen. He made just five relief appearances in the majors last year with Cleveland.

Perez is currently pitching for Tomateros de Culiacán in his native Mexico and apparently intends to hang up his cleats after that. The 40-year-old had a fascinating career, showing tons of promise but then flaming out as a starter, only to experience a rebirth as a reliever which allowed him to pitch 10 more seasons.

Perez cleared waivers after being designated for assignment last week. The 40-year-old didn’t allow a run in his first five appearances this season and plans to continue pitching.

Perez, 39, had not allowed an earned run through five appearances this season, but the Indians needed to clear a spot on their roster Wednesday with Nick Wittgren returning from the paternity leave list.

Perez, who was in camp as a non-roster invitee on a minor-league deal, has officially made the Indians’ Opening Day bullpen. The 39-year-old southpaw compiled a 2.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 14/3 K/BB ratio over 18 innings with the Tribe during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

Perez posted a strong 2.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 14/3 K/BB ratio over 18 innings last year for Cleveland while holding left-handed batters to a .185/.258/.222 slash line. The veteran left-hander will be embarking on his 19th major league season, and his fourth consecutive season with the Tribe. He turns 40 years old in August.