Is Roberto Perez A Free Agent?

According to ESPN, Roberto Perez has agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2022 season.



Perez was drafted in the 33rd round by the Guardians in 2008 and played eight seasons in the major leagues with Cleveland.

Perez, now 32, struggled with finger and shoulder problems in 2021, hitting just.149 in 44 games.



In 2019, he had his best season with Cleveland, hitting a career-high 24 home runs and winning his first of two gold glove trophies.

Cleveland declined Perez’s $7 million contract option earlier this month, leaving him a free agent.

Perez will now join a Pirates team that on Monday dealt their 2021 starting catcher Jacob Stallings to the Marlins.

Austin Hedges and top prospect Bryan Lavastida are the only catchers on the Guardians’ 40-man roster.

Sandy Leon, a seasoned catcher, was just signed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Perez has been given credit for helping many of the young pitchers on the Guardians staff today achieve early success at the MLB level.

His game calling and all defensive abilities have been praised countless times by manager Terry Francona and first base coach and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. through the years.

The pitching staff was widely considered the best rotation in baseball several times during his tenure and he helped Corey Kluber earn the 2017 Cy Young Awar