As the Indians continue their winter makeover by wooing Nick Swisher as if he were a high school recruit, swinging big and connecting for a potential ace in Trevor Bauer, effectively duping opposing GMs (look under “Towers, Kevin”) into taking a mid-range talent prospect for Bauer, and showing just how easy on the eyes their architect is (number nine, ladies!), it has certainly has been the off-season of movement that we were expecting.

But the news of the day is that there is a measure of interest by the Dodgers for our volatile closer, Chris Perez. You can probably file Jon Heyman’s blurb about the Dodgers looking at Perez as tenuous for the moment. But considering what went on over the summer, a parting may be the best thing for both Perez and the Indians.

Perez walks that tightrope between being the consummate teammate (remember this?) and loose-cannon who will potentially become a public-relations nightmare. Eventually, the novelty of shooting from the hip becomes a hindrance; especially if your team ultimately fails to fulfill the reality that Perez states they are. The reality is that Indians have been good for the first three months of the year and then fallen off the cliff. I’m still not sure that his unfiltered ways have taken into account how to prognosticate. And throwing skeptical fans under the bus for expecting exactly what eventually happened? The mouthiness wears thin. Add in the fact that he just isn’t consistent enough that it’s easy to just let him talk because he’s going to get the last three outs in order. He reminds me more of a slightly better Joe Borowski; much better stuff, sure, but he somehow seems to still sweat out even the presumed easy outings more than he probably should.

Essentially, I’m saying that if the Dodgers want Perez to be Jonathan Broxton’s replacement, I doubt you’ll find many folks voting to keep him around. Closers are fungible as it is, and there are only a select few that are worth keeping for an extended period of time, or paying top-dollar for. Before Towers and the Dumbbacks, er, sorry, Diamondbacks bailed them out with the first of many questionable decisions lately, ask the Marlins how the Heath Bell experience turned out for them. So if there’s a legitimate interest in Perez, let’s see what deal the Dodgers send our way. Pestano’s capable, so it can’t hurt.

But above all, I wonder how his comments will be received by the LA media when the inevitable popping off happens. I’m an unabashed sucker for train wrecks. Bring it on!

Happy holidays, folks. 🙂

 

2 Comments

  • Drew says:

    Finishing a game is a special skill. And Perez has finished 90% of the save opportunities that Cleveland throws him out to finish in the last 3-years. Sure he is a public relations nightmare but he also doesn’t have a DUI and he is a 2-time all-star. So, to your point, if the Dodgers are willing to trade a left-handed starting prospect and Andre Either for him, then I say, make the deal. But it may take that much.

  • Portland Reign says:

    The problem with closers is that there is always someone who can take their spot. We see it every year. A closer gets injured and another jumps in and does fine, leaving the other guy to look for a new team. This is the problem with trading closers that are not named Rivera, you just don’t get a lot back for them in the off season. The value comes when the trade deadline is upon us and someone needs one more arm to put them over the top. If he is going to be traded, it will be in July.

1 Trackback or Pingback