AP source: Pirates, catcher Roberto Perez reach 1-year deal

Tue, Nov 30, 2021
MLB News (AP)

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates didn't waste time finding a replacement for Gold Glove catcher Jacob Stallings.

A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the Pirates have agreed to a 1-year deal worth $5 million with former Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal had not been announced. The signing is contingent on Perez passing a physical.

Perez, 32, won Gold Gloves in 2019 and 2020 with Cleveland but struggled at the plate throughout his career and hit just .149 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 44 games in 2021. The Guardians declined his $7 million option for 2022.

Perez takes over for Stallings, a Gold Glove winner in 2021 who was traded to Miami on Monday for reliever Zach Thompson and a pair of prospects.

Perez is a year older and considerably more expensive than Stallings, but the Pirates were able to flip Stallings - who is under team control through 2024 - for minor leaguers, the main focus of general manager Ben Cherington's franchise-wide reboot.

The trade left Pittsburgh, temporarily at least, without a catcher on the major league roster after Michael Perez was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis last week.

Roberto Perez will take over as the primary receiver for a pitching staff in flux. The Pirates used 17 different starters in 2021 and the rotation is a bit of a jumble, though Pittsburgh did sign veteran left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana on Monday to a one-year deal worth $2 million.

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