The Reds made a minor move they hope will pay off in a major way as they get ready for the second game of the Cactus League schedule against the Colorado Rockies.
Michael Lorenzen will get his first start of the spring.
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Sign the Veteran
The Reds signed left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Perez, a 15-year veteran, spent the last two seasons with the Washington Nationals, as a specialist used to pitch to left-handed hitters. He made 50 appearances with the Nationals last year, pitching 33 innings. Perez had no won-loss record and a 4.64 ERA
The 36-year old made his debut with the San Diego Padres in 2002 as a starter at the age of 20.. His career led him to the Pittsburgh, New York Mets, Seattle, Arizona and Houston before signing with the Nationals for the 2016 season.
The San Diego Padres signed Perez in 1999 out of Culican, Mexico.
Perez was a starting pitcher most of his career. He won a career-high 15 games for the Mets in 2007 and followed up with a 10-win seasons, making a career-high 34 starts.
The Mets released Perez in March 2011. He signed with the Nationals in 2011 and was sent to Double A Harrisburg. Perez was granted free agency
The Reds plan to use him to get left-handed hitters out in pressure situations.
”We don’t have a lot of left-handed relief depth at least of the experience nature,” Reds’ manager Bryan Price said. “He has a track record of being very, very tough on lefthanded hitters. He has really found a niche in that role. He’s been durable.”
If he sticks with the Reds it gives Price more manueverability in the bullpen.
“We understand there is a lot of youth in our pitching,” Price said. “We’ve been vulnerable with inexperience both in the bullpen and starting rotation in recent years. Trying to segue from starter to closer is challenging when you don't have experience."
The Reds were the first team to contact Perez.
“I like new teams for the fresh air,” Perez said. “The Reds wanted me so I’m excited to be here.”
Siri Injured
Jose Siri collided with the centerfield wall, chasing a triple by the Indians Richie Shaffer in the eighth inning of the Reds’ 6-4 win.
Siri, who had a 39-game hitting streak for the Dayton Dragons last season, had the wind knocked out of him and left the game. He suffered ligament damage to his left thumb which has been immobalized.
Siri will be out an indefinite period of time but it will take weeks to heal.
The Reds were eager to evaluate Siri, who will likely start the season at Daytona or Pensacola.
“Now was the opportunity that I would have or the staff would have to see him perform,” Price said. “I loved the effort, trying to run that ball down in center. We’ve heard a lot about the kid. This would have been a really nice opportunity to see him play.”
Escape from the Pen
Michael Lorenzen starts his quest to return to the starting rotation with Saturday’s start against the Colorado Rockies.
Lorenzen was a starter when the Reds first brought him to the big leagues in 2015, making 21 starts with a 4-9 record and a 5.40 ERA.
The 26-year old suffered a sprained right elbow and placed on the disabled list the day before Opening Day in 2016.
Lorenzen, who played centerfield at Cal State - Fullerton, pitched out of the bullpen for the Reds the last two seasons. Last year, he appeared in 70 games building an 8-4 record with 4.45 ERA.
The Reds put him in competition with Sal Romano, Tyler Mahle and Robert Stephenson for the fifth starting spot in the rotation. Lorenzen would stay in the bullpen if he doesn’t win the rotation job.
Finnegan MIA
Brandon Finnegan’s name has been absent from the Cactus League pitching schedule.
Price named the lefthander to his starting rotation on the first day of camp, in spite or two on field injuries and surgery to his right shoulder from an off field injury.
“Finnegan threw yesterday,” Price said. “He’ll have two days off and throw again. Right now we’re ticketed for right around the first of the month. There was no setback. We wanted to take a more cautious approach with him.”
In the Field
Dilson Herrera will start at secondbase against Colorado.
The 24-year old, acquired in the trade with the Mets for Jay Bruce, will battle for the vacant secondbase job.
Herrera missed most of spring training last spring with persistent shoulder pain. He played 68 games with Louisville before surgery to repair a shoulder impingement was performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek on August 1.
The native of Cartagena, Columbia was the designated hitter against the Indians on Friday. The Reds will alternate heavy throwing days with designated hitting appearances.
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