Ugh.
Here we go again. Chris Perez – or more appropriately, his mouth – is back in the news, this time blasting not only the Indians’ budget-conscience ownership, but also the front office.
Perez, according to Jon Paul Morosi over at FoxSports, stated the obvious differences between Cleveland’s ownership, the Dolans, and Detroit’s, Mike Ilitch.
“They (the Tigers) are spending money. He (Illitch) wants to win. Even when the economy was down (in Detroit), he spent money. He’s got a team to show for it.”
Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison via Flickr.com
Perez, who’s tied for sixth in baseball with 34 saves, went on the offensive again, pointing out the failures of the front office: “You can’t miss. You have to be right. That’s why I say it’s not just ownership. They don’t make the trades. It’s the GMs. It goes hand in hand.”
Damnit, I’m torn.
Not on what Perez has said – because, well, it’s spot on – but it just adds to a nightmarish season, one in which started with so much promise. In the end, though, it ultimately does nothing. Not a damn thing. Ownership isn’t likely to pony up any extra cash. The front office isn’t going to begin drafting any better, though it sure as hell would be hard not to given the past track record. And the fans aren’t going to start suddenly packing the place a la the mid to late 90s.
And, truthfully, it may stop the team from making the one move it desperately needs to make: trading Chris Perez.
Look, earlier in the season I didn’t hide my concerns with Perez. His fastball had declined nearly two miles per hour since his rookie season. His strikeout rate had dropped from 10.74 K/9 to 8.71 to 5.88, all the while maintaining a rather problematic walk rate that hung around 4 BB/9. Despite that, he showed a solid ERA last season, 3.32, and saved 36 games, two statistics I couldn’t care less about.
I thought the team missed the boat, failing to deal Perez before he eventually bottomed out.
Well, I was wrong. He’s not only seen an uptick in his velocity – his fastball is averaging 94 mph – but he’s in the middle of a career year, posting the second best K-rate in his career (10.36) but also the best walk rate, at 2.03, nearly two full walks better than any point in his entire professional career.
He’s been dominant – exceptionally dominant actually. His value is likely to never be any higher this offseason, loudmouth or not. And with as many holes as the Indians have – first base, left field, right field (when Shin-Soo Choo is dealt), designated hitter, and possibly one spot in the rotation – and with no help in the upper minors, the return for Perez could add quite a bit.
Last offseason, Oakland dealt closer Andrew Bailey along with fourth outfielder-type Ryan Sweeney, to Boston for Josh Reddick and two prospects. Reddick, by the way, is hitting .256/.322/.491 with 28 homeruns for the resurgent A’s. And one of the two prospects received, Miles Head, has a chance to develop into a solid big league regular.
While the return for Perez may not be that plentiful – the A’s really hit a homerun – the Indians should be able to get a MLB-ready or near ready regular and a solid B-level prospect for an upper-tier reliever who is still under team control through the end of 2014, potentially filling multiple holes.
And this, of course, is all possible because of Cleveland’s deep bullpen and the emergence of Cody Allen, the second player to reach the big leagues in the 2011 draft.
Allen, who was drafted in the twenty-third round, has a ceiling of a dominant closer with the floor of solid setup man and needed just 98 innings in the minors before getting called up. He sports a mid-90s fastball that shows excellent late life and a hard, downward biting curveball. His control with the Indians is a bit off (4.22 BB/9), but it has shown to be an above-average skill in the minors (2.1 BB/9).
By dealing Perez, the team could promote Vinnie Pestano to closer and Allen to eighth-inning duty. And if the Indians don’t feel comfortable with that there’s always Esmil Rogers, who’s developed into a very good backend arm (which I called).
There are options, depth.
But I’m just not sure the Indians front office is willing to deal Perez, not after getting called out by him and the entire situation potentially becoming a lightning rod of controversy seen by many fans as just dealing a problematic player.
A Perez trade wouldn’t be about dealing a loudmouth. No, it would be a damn good baseball trade. Let’s hope the front office recognizes that.
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