Fansided

Rangers and pitcher Martin Perez agree on new contract through 2017

By Brad Rowland

Sep 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

There are certain times where making the big free agent “splash” over the winter in Major League Baseball is the right thing to do. However, there are also times better designed for locking up talent that is already in house, and that is exactly what the Texas Rangers elected to do on Thursday.

Anthony Andro of Fox Sports Southwest (among others) is reporting that the team and left-handed pitcher Martin Perez have agreed to extend their marriage through at least the 2017 season. Financial details of the deal are undisclosed, but his report also indicates that the team will have club options through 2020, giving them a considerable amount of control over the 22-year-old lefty.

Depending on the financials, I love this deal for the Rangers. Perez was considered to be somewhat of a disappointment entering the 2013 season as a former top-flight prospect who had “plateaued”, but Perez produced considerable value in the Majors this season. In 124.1 innings, Perez posted a 3.62 ERA with a very solid 2.68 BB/9 walk rate that helped him earn 1.6 WAR according to FanGraphs.

With his age and pedigree, this is the exact type of asset that teams love to extend control over, and while this move may fly under the radar for Texas, it’s an outstanding maneuver.

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