Washington Nationals sign reliever to minor league deal

Days after adding a veteran arm to the starting rotation, the Washington Nationals have now added another arm to the spring training roster, this time in the bullpen.

Multiple reports broke on Saturday evening that the team has agreed to a minor league deal with left handed pitcher Cionel Perez. The deal includes an invite to the team's spring training with a chance to earn $1.9 million if he makes the roster, along with an additional $700,000 in incentives. And with a chance to upgrade a rotation in need of dire help ahead of Opening Day, Perez has a chance to capitalize on that near $2 million deal.

Perez joins the organization after five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles where he joined after being claimed off waivers back on Nov. 24, 2021.

Across over 21 innings and 19 appearances, Perez finished the 2025 season with an 8.31 ERA while allowing three home runs and 18 walks to 21 strikeouts. He would then be designated for assignment in late May before electing free agency in late September, ending his four-year tenure with an organization on a low note. It marked the first season with Baltimore that Perez finished with fewer than 60 appearances, while he notched a 3.72 ERA with 166 strikeouts against 177 hits.

Perez spent the 2021 season with Cincinnati after being traded from Houston, going to make 25 appearances with a 1-2 record and 6.38 ERA while tossing 25 strikeouts across 24 innings pitched. It also marked his lone season with the Reds after beginning his career with the Houston Astros.

Perez was signed to a $5.15 million contract as an international free agent by the Astros back in September 2016 before the contract was voided due to an issue with his physical. Three months later, Perez inked a $2 million deal with Houston to begin his professional career before making his MLB debut back in July 2018.

Now looking to add much-needed experience to the bullpen like Miles Mikolas did to the starting rotation, Perez becomes just the third pitcher in the Washington Nationals' rotation with at least two years of experience in the pros, making it a low-risk move for a bullpen in dire need of experience under new pitching coach Simon Matthews in 2026. Had he thrown enough to qualify in 2024, Perez's fastball velocity, expected batting average, barrel rate, and groundball rate all ranked at least in the 71st percentile. All eyes will be on whether he can turn the page from a rough 2025 season that was cut short due to production.