Padres obtain veteran lefty Martin Perez in last-minute trade
Jun 28, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martin Perez (54) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Padres came into the July 30 trade deadline still needing to add a starting pitcher. They made monster moves to bolster the bullpen but did not swing a blockbuster for a starter. Martin Perez arrives from Pittsburgh to eat some innings.
While the Padres did not break the internet for a starting pitcher like some may have thought, the Padres did add to the pitching staff. Before the clock struck 3 pm PT, they added All-Star closer Tanner Scott to the bullpen that just added Jason Adam from Tampa.
Basically, right at the buzzer, the Padres made something of an unheralded move.
LHP MartÃn Pérez is reportedly being traded to the San Diego Padres. pic.twitter.com/w979ngM2FI
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 30, 2024
The avid baseball fan should know who Martin Perez is. He broke into the big leagues in 2012 and has racked up over 1,500 innings in his MLB career. In 2022, at age 31, he earned his first and only All-Star bid with the Texas Rangers. That year, he posted a 2.89 ERA in 32 starts. He also pitched in three games during the Rangers’ postseason run to a title last season.
Frankly, since that stellar 2022, his numbers have been subpar. The Pirates signed him over the winter to eat some innings. Thus far, he owns a 5.20 ERA and 78 ERA+ in 83 innings.
Understandably, Pittsburgh’s return is light. According to reports, San Diego will send Ronaldys Jimenez their way in exchange.
18-year-old LHP Ronaldys Jimenez is the return to the Pirates for Martin Perez according to @francysromeroFR
Jimenez made three starts in the DSL this year, pitching six innings total. His first pro ball experience
— John Dreker (@JohnDreker) July 30, 2024
To be frank, if Perez is the Padres’ third or even fourth starter, something has gone terribly wrong elsewhere in the rotation. Perez comes in as a veteran to eat innings and provide some stability where the Padres had to turn to arms like Adam Mazur. Also, this adds the wrinkle of a left-hander to the rotation. That is not something the Padres have had all season. It simply gives the Padres a few more options to play with in the rotation, especially as guys exceed career highs in innings.
Perhaps a move to Petco Park with pitching coach Ruben Niebla stabilizes Perez’s poor season so far. His last start for the Pirates offered a good sign, as he tossed six shutout innings against the Cardinals.
Joe Musgrove is expected to return to the starting rotation in the next week or two. Once he does, the Padres will have a rotation of Musgrove, Dylan Cease, Michael King, Matt Waldron, and either Martin Perez or Randy Vasquez.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.
In the mean time, the dodgers gave up next to nothing (their #8 and #22 prospect) for the highly sought after starting pitcher Jack Flaherty. And AJ-with-the-massive-overpay gave up 3 of the Padres top 5 prospects for 2 months of a reliever (i.e. not starter) and a long reliever.
Go figure.