Perez agreed to a minor-league contract with the Mets on Wednesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Perez secured a spot on the Nationals' Opening Day roster coming out of spring training but was dropped from the 40-man roster last week after submitting a 6.19 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 9:11 K:BB in 16 innings. After clearing waivers, Perez elected to become a free agent and was able to quickly catch on with a new organization. Perez is expected to report to Triple-A Syracuse and will likely need to show improved control before he receives a look in the New York bullpen.
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Cionel Perez: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Perez elected to become a free agent Monday.
Perez passed through waivers unclaimed after being removed from the Nationals' 40-man roster. Rather than accept an outright assignment, he's exercised his right to free agency. Perez holds a 6.19 ERA and 9:11 K:BB over 16 innings at the big-league level in 2026.
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Nationals' Cionel Perez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Perez cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Perez was removed from the 40-man roster after Friday's outing against the Brewers, when he allowed two hits across two scoreless innings. He has a shaky 6.19 ERA and 1.69 WHIP across 16 innings this season and will look to get his command and control in order in Triple-A. Orlando Ribalta was recalled by the Nationals from Rochester in a corresponding move.
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Nationals' Cionel Perez: Credited with win Monday
Rotowire
Perez (1-1) picked up the win Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to close out a 9-6 victory over the Cardinals.
Despite pitching the ninth inning with a three-run lead, Perez was officially credited with a win and not a save as the Nationals' other relievers hadn't exactly been effective -- between them, Ken Waldichuk and Andre Granillo coughed up five runs in three innings. It's still intriguing high-leverage usage for Perez given the unsettled nature of the Washington bullpen, but the 29-year-old southpaw has only avoided allowing any runs himself in two of his five appearances to begin the season, stumbling to a 14.73 ERA and 3:2 K:BB in 3.2 innings.
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Nationals' Cionel Perez: Collects first hold
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Perez gave up two hits, including a solo home run, in two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to record his first hold of the season in an extra-inning loss to the Phillies.
The 29-year-old lefty entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning and retired Kyle Schwarber, but Bryce Harper then took Perez deep to lead off the eighth as the Nationals' bullpen squandered a 5-0 lead. Perez may not hang onto a high-leverage role much longer if he can't keep the ball in the park -- he's served up two homers in his first three appearances and 2.2 innings this season, although his 3:0 K:BB is more promising than his 6.75 ERA.
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Nationals' Cionel Perez: Clinches roster spot
Rotowire
The Nationals informed Perez on Monday that he'll be included on the Opening Day roster, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Perez had been attending spring training as a non-roster invitee and earned a spot in the Washington bullpen after striking out five and allowing just one unearned run on two hits and one walk over six innings during the Grapefruit League. Expect Washington officially select Perez's contract when the team finalizes its roster shortly before Thursday's opener in Chicago. Given the lack of established relief options in Washington in addition to how well he pitched in the spring, Perez could find himself in the mix for a key setup role right away during the season.
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Cionel Perez: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Perez elected free agency Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Perez took a major step back in 2025, posting an 8.31 ERA and 2.12 WHIP across 21.2 innings with the Orioles, leading to his removal from the 40-man roster in late May. His performance didn't improve much after he moved to Triple-A (6.85 ERA, 2.22 WHIP, 22.1 IP), so he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal in free agency.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Perez was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday after clearing waivers, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Perez was DFA'd by the Orioles last Saturday after logging an 8.31 ERA, 2.12 WHIP and 21:18 K:BB across 21.2 innings. He'll remain in the Orioles organization and report to Triple-A, where he'll look to regain his control and perform well enough to warrant a return to the majors.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Awarded win Sunday
Rotowire
Perez (2-0) hit one batter but did not allow a hit or a walk over a scoreless inning to earn the win Sunday over the Padres.
The Orioles never trailed Sunday, but starter Albert Suarez came up one out short of qualifying for the win. Jacob Webb also struggled in his relief appearance, leading to Perez being awarded the win. Perez has bounced back from a rough patch right out of the All-Star break, earning a save and a win over two scoreless innings across his last two appearances. For the year, he has a 4.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 29:15 K:BB with two saves and 13 holds across 31.2 innings.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Nabs extra-inning save
Rotowire
Perez earned a save against the Marlins on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.
Primary closer Craig Kimbrel blew a save chance in the ninth inning, and the game went into an extra frame. Baltimore scored a run in the top of the 10th, and Perez was able to keep the automatic runner from crossing the plate in the bottom of the inning to notch his second save of the campaign. The southpaw isn't likely to see many more save opportunities this season, though he's gotten a good amount of high-leverage work and is tied for second on the team with 13 holds.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Snags win Friday
Rotowire
Perez (1-0) pitched a perfect inning with one strikeout to earn the win Friday over the Rays.
Perez kept the deficit from growing beyond 1-0, and the Orioles rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning to give him the win. He hasn't earned a hold in any of his last eight appearances, but he has a save and a win in that span. The southpaw isn't a usual part of the high-leverage mix, but he's filled in there on occasion in 2024. He's at a 4.61 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB through 13.2 innings as a middle reliever this season.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Orioles activated Perez (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Monday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Perez has been out most of this season with a right oblique strain but is ready to go after making two rehab appearances. Right-hander Dillon Tate was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Hoping to throw again soon
Rotowire
Perez (oblique) said Wednesday that he's feeling much better and is optimistic that he can begin throwing soon, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Perez landed on the injured list over the weekend with a right oblique strain, but he might require a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The left-handed reliever was a key bullpen piece for the Orioles over the last two seasons, collecting a 2.43 ERA and 99:48 K:BB over 111 innings.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Perez landed on the 15-day IL on Sunday with a right oblique strain, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.
Perez was removed from Saturday's appearance against the Angels due to lower-back discomfort. After further evaluation, it was revealed he has an oblique strain. In a corresponding move, Baltimore recalled Jonathan Heasley from Triple-A.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Ugly numbers early in spring
Rotowire
Perez has allowed five runs over three innings across his first three Grapefruit League appearances.
Perez saw a reduced role in 2023, posting a 3.54 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 44:27 K:BB over 53.1 innings while adding 11 holds and three saves. He had 24 holds as a setup man in 2022. Perez can't afford a poor spring -- competition is fierce in the Orioles' bullpen with up to a dozen pitchers in contention for seven or eight major-league roster spots. Perez's track record alone isn't enough for him to rely on being a lock if he continues to struggle.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Avoids arbitration with Orioles
Rotowire
Perez signed a one-year contract with the Orioles on Monday to avoid arbitration.
The deal also contains a club option for 2025. The financial particulars aren't clear, but Perez had been seeking $1.4 million for 2024, with the team offering $1.1 million. Perez has collected a 2.43 ERA and 99:48 K:BB over 111 innings in his two seasons in Baltimore.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Grabs one-out save
Rotowire
Perez struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Tuesday's 9-5 win over the Astros.
Yennier Cano put two runners on, but Perez was able to escape the jam for his second save of the season. Over his last 23 appearances spanning 17.2 innings, Perez has allowed two unearned runs, 12 hits and two walks while striking out 17, though he has just one save, two holds and a win in that span. The southpaw had a rough start to the season, but he's now at a respectable 3.16 ERA despite a 1.48 WHIP and 43:23 K:BB through 51.1 innings overall. Perez has added 10 holds and a 4-1 record, and he's had more high-leverage chances since Felix Bautista (elbow) has been out.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Collects fourth win
Rotowire
Perez (4-1) walked one but didn't allow a hit or a run over 1.1 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Mets.
Perez has steadied himself since the All-Star break, allowing three runs over 7.1 innings while picking up a save and two wins. The southpaw still has mediocre ratios for the year with a 4.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 29:22 K:BB while picking up eight holds over 37.2 innings. Perez will likely continue to serve as more of a middle reliever for an Orioles bullpen that sports a 3.55 ERA collectively, fourth-best in the majors.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Collects third win
Rotowire
Perez (3-1) struck out the only batter he faced to earn the win in Saturday's 6-5 victory over the Rays.
Perez got the last out of the eighth inning after newcomer Shintaro Fujinami allowed the tying run to score. The Orioles then retook the lead in the ninth inning, and Felix Bautista slammed the door to get Perez the win in his third appearance since returning from forearm soreness. Perez has allowed multiple runs in five of his last 14 outings, but he's kept runs off the board in the other nine appearances in that span. Overall, he's at a 4.68 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 26:19 K:BB with eight holds through 32.2 innings. The southpaw remains part of the Orioles' high-leverage mix, but Yennier Cano sees most of the setup work and Danny Coulombe is likely considered the top southpaw in this bullpen.
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Orioles' Cionel Perez: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
Perez (forearm) was activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Perez wound up missing just the minimum 15 days with left forearm soreness. Nick Vespi was sent down in a corresponding move.
