Oliver Pérez

Nationals reportedly strike 2-year deal with free-agent RP Perez

Published Dec. 5, 2015 10:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

Pitcher Oliver Perez and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a two-year, $7 million, according to a person familiar with the negotiations -- a start to rebuilding the team's shaky bullpen.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the agreement had not been announced.

#Nationals’ signing of lefty Perez, first reported by @JesseSanchezMLB, does not affect pursuit of righty O’Day as they reconstruct bullpen.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 4, 2015

A 34-year-old left-hander, Perez was 2-4 with a 4.17 ERA in 70 relief appearances this year from Arizona and Houston, which acquired him on Aug. 8 for minor-league left-hander Junior Garcia. Perez was a starter for his first decade in the major leagues with San Diego, Pittsburgh and the New York Mets, but has pitched out of the bullpen since 2012 with Seattle, Arizona and Houston.

Washington had 23 blown saves this past season, a reason the favored Nationals went just 83-79 and finished seven games behind the NL East champion New York Mets. Left-hander Matt Thornton became a free agent after the season, and right-hander Craig Stammen was let go this week.

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