Cleveland Indians left-handed reliever Oliver Perez was designated for assignment on Wednesday as the team cleared a roster spot for the return of right-hander Nick Wittgren.
The 39-year-old Perez, who is in his 19th major league season, did not allow an earned run over his first five appearances (3 2/3 innings) this season. He has 696 career appearances and has been exclusively a reliever since 2012.
Perez is 73-93 with a 4.34 ERA with eight different teams in his career. He made his debut in 2002 with the San Diego Padres and has spent the last four seasons with the Indians, with whom he has gone 4-7 with a 2.57 ERA since 2018, mostly as a left-handed specialist.
Wittgren is being reinstated from the paternity list. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in six relief appearances for the Indians this season. In six seasons with the Miami Marlins and Indians, the 29-year old is 16-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 204 relief outings.