The Braves and veteran left-hander Martín Pérez have agreed to a new minor league deal, marking a swift return to the organization after a brief stint of free agency. This move comes as Atlanta grapples with a mounting injury crisis in its pitching staff, with several key players sidelined. Pérez, aged 35, brings a wealth of experience and reliability to the team, having been a consistent back-end starter since 2020 with a collective 3.99 ERA in his past 719 1/3 MLB innings. His ability to provide bulk innings and a mid-4.00s ERA makes him a valuable asset, especially given the current state of the Braves' rotation.
The Braves' rotation is currently in disarray, with a quartet of pitchers on the injured list: Spencer Strider (oblique strain), Spencer Schwellenbach (surgery to remove bone chips from the elbow), Hurston Waldrep (same as Schwellenbach), and AJ Smith-Shawver (Tommy John surgery last June). Joey Wentz, who suffered a torn ACL, is out for the season. This leaves Atlanta with a depleted pitching staff, making Pérez's return all the more crucial.
Pérez's recent performance has been impressive, with three appearances for the Braves this season, including two starts and one relief outing. He has held opponents to five runs in 14 1/3 innings, boasting a 3.14 ERA. However, his strikeout rate of 11.3% and 90 mph sinker pitch suggest that sustaining this level of run prevention may be challenging. Metrics like FIP (4.39) and SIERA (4.65) align with the expectation that Pérez's run prevention should be around this level, given his strikeout, walk, and ground ball rates.
The Braves' strategy of frequently designating players for assignment and quickly re-signing them upon release is not uncommon in today's game, particularly for mid-30s veterans and pitchers. This approach allows teams to manage their rosters more flexibly and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the MLB. Pérez's return to the Braves organization is a testament to this strategy, and it remains to be seen whether he will secure a more permanent spot in the rotation or embrace the DFA carousel.
In my opinion, Pérez's addition to the Braves' pitching staff is a strategic move that addresses an immediate need. His experience and reliability make him a valuable depth option, and there is a strong possibility that he could pitch his way into a more permanent rotation spot. However, the DFA carousel approach could also provide a path to somewhat consistent innings, albeit a more circuitous one. The Braves' management will need to carefully consider their intentions and the player's preferences to make the most of this opportunity.
