ROBERTO PÉREZ NEWS

Teams spend $1.4B in 1 day, then MLB locks out players

Major League Baseball teams committed to an unprecedented $1.4 billion in salaries Wednesday, hours before the league locked out players following the 11:59 p.m. expiration of the...

DECEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Source: Pirates sign Roberto Perez to succeed Jacob Stallings According to a source, the Pirates have signed free agent Roberto Perez, formerly of the Guardians, to succeed Jacob Stallings.

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Signs with Pittsburgh Perez signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Impact The Pirates didn't have a catcher on the roster after trading Jacob Stallings to the Marlins on Monday. That could mean Perez has an easy path to the primary catcher role in 2022, though his .155/.253/.277 slash line over the last two seasons suggests that the Pirates may want to bring in an alternative alongside him.

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cleveland Guardians pick up José Ramírez's contract option, decline option on Roberto Pérez The club also officially announced the hiring of Chris Valaika as hitting coach on Friday.

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM

Team declines option Cleveland has declined Perez's $7 million option for 2022, making him a free agent, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Impact The buyout of Perez's contract costs Cleveland $450,000, but it's a price it is willing to pay to avoid paying $7 million to a player who slashed .149/.245/.319 in 44 games. The 32-year-old is a solid defensive catcher and figures to find a new home in free agency, although the poor offensive numbers suggest his days as a starter are over.

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

This Date in Baseball

This Date in Baseball-Oct. 25

OCTOBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead

This Date in Baseball-Week Ahead: Oct. 22-28

OCTOBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Not starting Sunday Perez is on the bench for Sunday's season finale against the Rangers.

Impact Perez has gone 0-for-6 in his last two games and 6-for-31 in his last 10. Assuming he doesn't enter Sunday's game, he finishes 2021 with an abysmal .149/.245/.319 slash line in 161 plate appearances. Austin Hedges is catching Sunday.

OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Indians beat Rangers 9-6 to clinch second in A.L. Central

Austin Hedges and Bobby Bradley homered, Jose Ramirez drove in three runs and rookie Eli Morgan won his third straight start as the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 9-6

OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heads back to bench Perez will sit Friday against the Rangers.

Impact Perez and Austin Hedges have alternated starts behind the plate for the last eight games. Hedges will catch Eli Morgan on Friday, but Perez should return to the lineup Saturday if the pattern continues.

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bieber 3 solid innings, Indians avoid 3-game sweep by Royals

Shane Bieber pitched three effective innings, Bradley Zimmer drove in three runs and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 to avoid a three-game sweep

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Retreats to bench Perez isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Royals.

Impact Perez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout Tuesday, but he'll head back to the bench as he continues to alternate starts behind the dish. Austin Hedges will start at catcher and bat eighth.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Monday Perez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals.

Impact With Monday's make-up game beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET, Perez will get a breather for the day game after he was behind the dish for three of the team's past four contests. Austin Hedges checks in at catcher in place of Perez, who went 1-for-10 with a double and a run scored during Cleveland's weekend series with the White Sox.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat in matinee Perez isn't starting the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the White Sox.

Impact Perez has gone 3-for-7 with a homer, two RBI and two strikeouts across his last two appearances, but he'll be out of the lineup for a second straight game. Austin Hedges will start behind the plate and bat ninth.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Tuesday's lineup Perez is not starting Tuesday against Kansas City.

Impact Perez will sit for the second time in three games after going 1-for-2 in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader. Austin Hedges will catch Cal Quantrill and bat eighth.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting for Game 1 of twin bill Perez is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Royals.

Impact Perez and Austin Hedges have been alternating turns behind the dish since the former was activated from the 10-day injured list last week, and the pattern will likely continue as Cleveland opens a nine-game week with a doubleheader. Hedges will form a battery with Triston McKenzie in the opening contest, but look for Perez to start at catcher in Monday's nightcap.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Clubs seventh homer Perez went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an RBI single in Sunday's 11-1 win over the Yankees.

Impact The catcher had gone just 1-for-5 in his first games back from a shoulder injury before Sunday's multi-hit effort. Perez lifted his slash line to .150/.255/.342 with seven homers, 17 RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base in 37 contests this year. He'll likely continue to share catching duties with Austin Hedges for the last two weeks of the season.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Saturday Perez will not start Saturday's game against the Yankees.

Impact Perez has so far started every other game since he returned from a shoulder injury Tuesday. Austin Hedges takes over behind the plate.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Wednesday Perez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Impact After a five-week stint on the injured list due to an inflamed shoulder, Perez returned to the Cleveland lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-3 in the team's 6-3 loss. Austin Hedges will get a turn behind the plate Wednesday in the series finale, and he and Perez will most likely split the catching duties in relatively even fashion over the final two and a half weeks of the season.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cleveland Indians activate catcher Roberto Perez; J.C. Mejia recalled for doubleheader Veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway was designated for assignment to make room for Roberto Perez on the 28-man roster.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM

Activated from injured list Perez (shoulder) was activated off the injured list Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Impact Perez has been out since early August while battling shoulder inflammation, but he's ready to go after appearing in eight rehab contests. Austin Hedges will start behind the plate in the first half of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins, but Perez will likely return to the lineup for the nightcap. Ryan Lavarnway is no longer needed with Perez back in action, so he was designated for assignment to clear space on the roster.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Allen scheduled to start for Cleveland against Minnesota

The Indians will start Logan Allen on Tuesday and the Twins are expected to counter with Charlie Barnes

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Civale scheduled to start as Cleveland hosts Milwaukee

The Brewers will start Eric Lauer on Sunday and the Indians are expected to counter with Aaron Civale

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Burnes scheduled to start for Brewers at Indians

The Brewers will start Corbin Burnes on Saturday while the Indians are expected to counter with Zach Plesac

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Morgan scheduled to start as Cleveland hosts Milwaukee

The Brewers will start Adrian Houser on Friday while the Indians are expected to counter with Eli Morgan

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS