Pirates sign ex-All-Star pitcher away from Rangers

The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting their hands on a World Series champion.

The Pirates officially announced this week that they have signed veteran left-hander Martin Perez. They revealed that Perez is getting a one-year contract for the 2024 season (reportedly worth $8 million).

Perez, 32, had spent the last two seasons as a member of the Texas Rangers, winning the World Series with them last year. He went 10-4 with a 4.45 ERA in a hybrid role for Texas (20 starts and 15 appearances out of the bullpen).

Prior to that, Perez was selected as an AL All-Star in 2022 on the heels of a terrific season where he was 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA. The 12-year veteran also had an earlier stint with the Rangers (from 2012-18) and then spent time with both the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.

It remains to be seen what exact role Perez will have in Pittsburgh. But he is an important lefty addition to a staff that only otherwise has Bailey Falter and Marco Gonzales. Perez has some other interesting talents to offer too.

Rangers In Market For Dodgers Reliever

Ryan Brasier could be in line to return to Texas if the Texas Rangers are able to sign the 36-year-old right-hander in free agency. The New York Post reported the Rangers are among six teams in the market for the Wichita Falls native as he contemplates a new deal after an exceptional stretch run with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Along with the Rangers and the Dodgers, the other four teams reported to be interested in Brasier are the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Angels, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB draft. Brasier attended Rider High School in Wichita Falls and Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas. He made his MLB debut with the Angels in 2013. Brasier started last season with Boston but struggled, going 1-0 with a 7.29 ERA in 20 games before the Red Sox designated him for assignment on May 15 and released him on May 21. The Dodgers signed him on June 4.