BALTIMORE — Though still needing to serve a 50-game suspension, former All-Star relief pitcher Chris Perez agreed to a minor-league deal with the Orioles on Thursday.
The 30-year-old will report to Sarasota while serving the ban for a second offense of using a drug of abuse. Perez had posted a 9.39 ERA in 7 2/3 innings for Triple-A Colorado Springs in the Milwaukee Brewers organization this season before opting out of his deal in late April to become a free agent.
“That doesn’t affect us right now, obviously, for 50 games,” said manager Buck Showalter, who learned of the signing Thursday afternoon. “We all makes some changes in our life and get better. I don’t know much at all about what’s been going on with him.
“I do know there are some other variables there that figure into it, I think.”
A two-time All-Star closer for the Cleveland Indians in 2011 and 2012 — he collected a combined 75 saves in those seasons — the right-hander and his wife were arrested for marijuana possession in 2013 after a package with nine ounces of marijuana was delivered to his home in their dog’s name. Perez’s career has declined since then as he was released by Cleveland after pitching a 4.33 ERA and converting 25 of 30 saves in 2013.
The Orioles previously expressed interest in Perez before he elected to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers and posted a 4.27 ERA in 46 1/3 innings during the 2014 season.
In his seven years in the majors, Perez has a career 3.51 ERA with 133 saves in 379 1/3 innings.
NOTES: There is no timetable for Matt Wieters to begin catching back-to-back games, but he is now throwing and doing other things to continue strengthening his elbow on non-catching days. Showalter reiterated that he expects the 29-year-old to do it at some point this season, but he didn’t want to predict when. … Norfolk will send four players to the Triple-A All-Star game with outfielder Dariel Alvarez being elected to start. Catcher Steve Clevenger and pitchers Michael Bowden and Oliver Drake will also represent the Tides as reserves. … T.J. McFarland started Thursday’s game for the Tides, but the lefty will return to a relief role after that and could be added to the Orioles bullpen sometime next week if there’s a need between now and the All-Star break.
