The St. Joseph Jokers continued their busy off-season on Friday, completing a deal with the Spokane Fightin' Fish to acquire left-hander Martin Perez (2FA/$5). The Fish will receive a 2nd and 3rd Round Pick in return (25th and 36th Overall).
The 31-year-old veteran southpaw's 2022 season was one of the bigger surprises among starting pitchers. He went 12-8 and made the All-Star team for the first time in his 11th major-league season. Perez had a career-best 2.89 ERA (3.26 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, a career-high 169 strikeouts and 69 walks in 196 1/3 innings over his 32 starts in his first season with the Rangers. Whether he can do it for a second season in a row is another story. Perez has a career 4.43 ERA (4.35 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP and a 909:470 K:BB in 1,299 innings over 253 appearances (223 starts).
The Jokers have transformed their rotation this off-season, acquiring Tyler Mahle, Noah Syndergaard and Perez to slot in behind Kyle Wright and Ross Stripling. In total, the group is owed just $20 combined while carrying a projection of 399.0 points per starter.
The Jokers also hold $127 to fill their remaining 10 spots, making them likely targets for an additional top of the rotation starter as they look to improve on a group that posted a RDBL-worst 4.50 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 2022.
GM Michael Tirabassi continues to navigate his way through what is widely viewed as the best off-season of any RDBL club following the additions of Aaron Judge and Justin Verlander while netting four early round picks in return for players that were not expected to make their Keeper Roster.
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