OAKLAND, Calif. — New Astros left-handed reliever Oliver Perez couldn’t complain after being traded from Arizona to Houston in a deal late Friday night.
After all, Perez went from the fourth-place team in the National League West to the first-place team in the American League West.
The only time he pitched in the postseason was 2006 after being traded by Pittsburgh to the Mets in a July 31 deal that year.
“When you play baseball, you want to get a ring, and I don’t have one yet,” Perez said before Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Oakland. “My last time I was in the playoffs was 2006, and I was traded that time too. I remember what happened in 2006, and I feel happy because that’s what we play for, trying to get to postseason, trying to get a ring.”
Perez made his Astros debut Sunday, retiring the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. With a runner on second and two outs, he retired pinch hitter Billy Butler on a ground ball to shortstop.
Perez, 33, gives the Astros a second left-handed reliever, joining Tony Sipp.
“They’re a little bit different, they’re different stylistically,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “Perez is maybe a touch tougher on lefties. Tony can navigate righties a little bit better. They’re both resilient arms. They get up every day and have a chance to be in the game.
“Perez is a little more velocity, a little bit different funkier angle from low three-quarters. Obviously I’ve learned Sipp throughout the year. So they’ll both be utilized. I think having two of them is a great advantage for us.”
Perez has now been traded three times during his major-league career, which is in its 13th season. He said being traded twice before should make this transition easier. He made the rounds throughout Houston’s clubhouse, meeting his new teammates.
“You feel like the first time in school,” Perez said. “You just feel excited and nervous at the same time. I feel like a rookie right now.”
Perez went 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA in 48 relief appearances for Arizona this season. Last year for the Diamondbacks, he went 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 68 relief appearances.