Oakland Athletics catcher Carlos Perez became a free agent on Monday when he declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas. Perez will now look for a new organization on the free-agent market this winter. The 32-year-old veteran Venezuelan backstop appeared in 66 games in the big leagues for the A's in 2023 for the first time since 2018, when he played in 28 games with the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. In his 66 contests with Oakland this year, Perez slashed .226/.293/.357 with a career-high six home runs, four doubles, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 189 plate appearances. In five big-league campaigns, Perez has hit .218 (171-for-786) with 17 homers and 78 RBI in 278 career games.
Oakland Athletics catcher Carlos Perez (thumb), who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left thumb (retroactive to July 2), will have his thumb re-evaluated by a doctor sometime this week. If he's cleared, Perez will then begin strengthening activities. The 32-year-old has been out of action since the Fourth of July, but he was able to avoid surgery and should be able to return to the A's in the second half of the season. In 47 games for the A's this year before his injury, Perez was hitting .232 (29-for-125) with five home runs, four doubles, 17 RBI and 12 runs scored in 140 trips to the plate. With Manny Pina (wrist) also currently on the injured list, the A's are currently running with Shea Langeliers and top prospect Tyler Soderstrom at catcher.
The Oakland Athletics signed free-agent catcher Carlos Perez to a minor league deal on Friday. If Perez finds his way onto the major league roster, he'll earn $650,000. The 30-year-old backstop has played four seasons in the big leagues and hasn't seen any action in the majors since 2018 with the Braves and Rangers, when he slashed .143/.178/.214 with one home run and three RBI in just 70 at-bats over 28 games. In 670 career plate appearances, Perez has hit just .215/.257/.319 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 212 games with the Angels, Braves and Rangers. The 30-year-old from Venezuela is strictly catching depth for the A's and can be avoided in all fantasy formats this spring.
Texas Rangers catcher Carlos Perez (ankle) was activated from the disabled list Monday. Perez was then immediately optioned to Triple-A. Perez has been underwhelming in 2018, with a .159 batting average, one home run and on stolen base. The big winner here is Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who will now serve as both the backup catcher and a backup infielder. In two-catcher leagues Kiner-Falefa has now become an interesting option as he should play a little more regularly than normal backup catchers.
Texas Rangers catcher Carlos Perez was placed on the disabled list Saturday. Perez sprained his ankle on a play at the plate Friday. Perez has struggled in 2018, hitting .159 in 68 plate appearances as the Rangers backup catcher. Perez had very limited fantasy value prior to the injury, and in any leagues he was owned he should be considered a candidate to be dropped. Jose Trevino will get his first career start Saturday, but I do not expect him to play many games during Perez's time on the DL. Trevino has little fantasy relevance and should not be added in anything but the deepest leagues.
Texas Rangers catcher Carlos Perez sustained a sprained ankle on a play at the plate Friday. Perez was playing due to the one game suspension handed to Robinson Chirinos. The X-rays on Perez's ankle came back negative but he was still seen wearing a boot after the game. The Rangers will find out more Saturday and determine whether Perez needs to go on the disabled list. Perez had little fantasy value anyway before this injury, as he is primarily the backup to Chirinos and has hit just .159 with one home runs in 68 plate appearances this season.
Robinson Chirinos Scratched, Carlos Perez Starting
Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos was scratched from the lineup Wednesday with a sore left wrist. Catcher Carlos Perez will take his place behind the plate and hit ninth. Perez has yet to register a hit in his six at-bats since joining the Rangers. In addition, Perez actually has reverse platoon splits and is worse against left-handed pitchers than right-handers. Given those numbers and the fact he only has three hits total on the season, Perez is a catcher to avoid Wednesday. As for Chirinos, it's unclear for how long he'll be out.
Atlanta Braves catcher Carlos Perez has been claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Perez was designated for assignment after Tyler Flowers came back from the disabled list. He hit .143 with the Braves in eight games but was not needed on the active roster once Flowers was healthy enough to return. Perez is not worth an add in any fantasy leagues right now but should get more work in Arlington.
