Chris Perez joins loaded Class AAA bullpen

Mesa, Ariz. - Reliever Chris Perez, who was released on Sunday but re-signed a minor-league deal, worked out on the Brewers’ side of the complex Wednesday, packed his bag and headed over to the minor-league side.

“There was no job in the big leagues,” Perez said of his decision to return after failing to make the Brewers’ roster as a non-roster player. “The last 48 hours, there’s been about 50 guys released. Everybody’s purging their rosters, so there’s not a job available right now.

“I’m comfortable here; I have been all spring. I like the staff. I’ll try to survive the mile high (conditions of Colorado Springs). Go down, pitch well and get back up here. It will help me work on my sinker.”

Because Perez was released, he did not receive a $100,000 retention bonus to be sent down. Instead of a $1.5 million big-league salary, he will be paid $25,000 a month in the minors. He has out clauses on May 1 and June 1 that allow him to leave if offered a job in the majors elsewhere.

Perez joins what figures to be a loaded bullpen at Colorado Springs including Rob Wooten, Brandon Kintzler, Ariel Pena, David Goforth and Corey Knebel.
“Wow,” said manager Ron Roenicke. “The more depth you have, great.”

As for piecing together a starting rotation there after the Brewers kept Tyler Thornburg and Michael Blazek, Roenicke said, "That's what they're trying to decide." 


(jsonline.com)