Chris Perez just wants opportunity to work

CLEVELAND — Chris Perez is looking for work, he came to the right place.

Perez, acquired from the Cardinals for Mark DeRosa over the weekend, was in uniform for his new team Monday. The Indians are searching for any kind of help for their ragged bullpen, and the hard-throwing Perez is expected to be a late-inning contributor at some point.

The right-hander, who turns 24 on Wednesday, just will be happy to contribute in any way he can.

“The last month, basically since they’ve been trying to trade me, (the Cardinals) haven’t been throwing me,” said Perez, who is 1-1 with a save and a 4.18 ERA in 29 appearances. “I’ve been throwing every five, six days. For me, that’s a tough adjustment. I need to throw a lot to stay consistent with my slider.”

That slider, along with a mid to upper 90s fastball, is strikeout material for Perez, who’s whiffed 30 batters in 232⁄3 innings. Indians Manager Eric Wedge plans to ease in Perez initially before turning to him for late-inning work.

“He’s got a bright future, so we want to put him in the best position to succeed,” he said.

In the Tribe’s ever-changing bullpen — which added Jose Veras last week, saw Jensen Lewis jettisoned to the minors Saturday, and awaits Rafael Betancourt’s return from injury and Rafael Perez’s return to form — Chris Perez could quickly assume the set-up role.

At some point in his career, he wants to be a closer.

“That’s my ultimate dream,” he said. “If it’s this year, next year, a couple years down the road, that’s my goal. That’s what keeps me working hard, to get that job somewhere.

“We have a great closer here in Kerry Wood. I went up against him last year with Chicago. He’s a great competitor and he’s got good stuff. By no means am I here to take his job. I’m here to fit in and try to help him.”

As for leaving a first-place team for a last-place team, he said, “That’s part of the game. If I come over here and get more opportunities to throw and help this team turn it around and win, I’m all for it.”

While many view the DeRosa trade as the Indians acknowledging that 2009 is a hopeless cause, Wedge differs.

“You got to trade somebody good to get somebody good,” he said. “We got someone we feel like can help us down there. We’re trying to put the pieces together that will help us solidify the bullpen. We’ve got to figure it out. ... When you’re in a position to win games, you’ve got to win those games. That’s your bullpen.”



(cantonrep.com)