Timo Perez Career Tracker

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Baseball: Roundup
Perez, a spark late in '07, among Tigers camp invitees
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- The Tigers on Tuesday announced what amounts to their "probably-not" list -- and this year it's a long one.

They are inviting 21 nonroster players to spring training -- from outfielder Timo Perez, who hit .389 in 90 at-bats for them last year, to catcher Max St. Pierre, who's back in the organization for an 11th year after one season in the Brewers' system.

But all 21 share the common thread of probably not making the team this spring.

Some have no chance at all.

Most of the invitees are prospects who'll be among the first cuts because they've been targeted all along to play in the minors this season.

Others, such as pitcher Aquilino Lopez, might not make the team in the spring, but could be called up during the season as he was last year. Relief pitcher Matt Mantei also might come in handy if his comeback proves successful.

Perez also has shown he can help if needed.

But this year's list is different in this respect: Instead of the six catchers being invited to camp knowing for sure they won't make the team, they'll be aware there could be an opening if Vance Wilson won't be ready for the start of the season -- and if Brandon Inge gets traded before Opening Day.

In that case, you might want to keep track of Dane Sardinha, who was Toledo's catcher last year.

As for others? Probably not. But that's better than definitely not.

White Sox add Dotel to 'pen

Reliever Octavio Dotel and the White Sox agreed on a two-year, $11 million contract, bolstering a bullpen that ranked third-worst in ERA last season.

Dotel, 34, a right-hander, spent last season with the Royals and Braves, but a shoulder injury limited him to 33 appearances and 30 2/3 innings. He went 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA.

Around the horn

Ex-second baseman Chuck Knoblauch was subpoenaed by a U.S. congressional committee investigating steroids in baseball after he failed to respond to an invitation to give a deposition.

Knoblauch was asked to appear Thursday, the first of five depositions or transcribed interviews scheduled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee prior to its Feb. 13 hearing.

Roger Clemens was asked to speak to committee staff Saturday, followed by Yankee Andy Pettitte on Jan. 30. Trainer Brian McNamee is due in Jan. 31 and ex-Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski was asked to appear Feb. 1

The Rays and starter James Shields (12-8, 3.85 ERA) completed a deal that could be worth more than $38 million. It includes four guaranteed years and three years of team options.

The Rockies have scheduled a press conference for today regarding shortstop Troy Tulowitzki , who is close to signing a six-year deal reportedly worth $30 million.

Reliever Dave Borkowski, a Detroit native and former Tiger, agreed to a one-year, $800,000 deal to stay with the Astros.

The Red Sox agreed to minor league deals with relievers Dan Kolb and ex-Tiger Dan Miceli.

Don Mattingly will move from Dodgers hitting coach to special assignment coach.

News wire services contributed

Good Luck Timo

Yeah, good luck Timo!!! I'd like to have Timo around again!!!

bump

He was fun to watch at Toledo--and he showed lots of enthusiasm on the field for the Tigs.

If somebody goes down, we'll see Timo Time!!

maybe before Inge time!

Could be sooner than we think. Tigs are still trying to get rid of Inge, to make him happy, and not a cancer!

Surely a dither, as my ancestors would say!

From Detroit Tigers Media Relations Department
3/25/08

BELTRAN, PEREZ ASSIGNED TO MINOR LEAGUE CAMP: The Tigers today assigned righthanded pitcher Francis Beltran and outfielder Timo Perez to minor league camp. Both players will remain with the major league club and travel to Houston on Thursday.

Frank must've got his visa problems ironed out?

he was the one with the problems, right?

No, Beltran has been here, FRANCISCO CRUCETA is the one with visa problems.

any word on his status?

laprimamirala wrote:

any word on his status?

Nothing yet

*sigh* what a crazy thing to have happen!

Monday, January 26, 2009
Tigers again sign Perez to minor-league deal
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Outfielder Timo Perez will be at spring training with the Tigers again. For the third consecutive season, they've signed him to a minor-league contract.

A year ago, Perez was coming off an impressive stint with Detroit in which he hit .389 in 90 at-bats in 2007. He spent all of last year at Toledo, however, hitting .302.

But even at 34, which he'll be on April 8, Perez gives the Tigers some just-in-case insurance at Triple-A.

Go Timo

03/16/09 8:25 PM ET
Perez making most of stars' absence
Veteran outfielder raps four hits in victory over Cardinals

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Timo Perez is not a complicated player. He's a left-handed line-drive hitter who will step to the plate swinging. He won't strike out a lot, but he won't draw an abundance of walks, either.

With the Tigers' entire starting outfield away at the World Baseball Classic, Perez is getting playing time and doing what he normally does. On Monday, he did it off Cardinals pitching for four hits in as many plate appearances.

"You never know," Perez said. "Be ready."

The Tigers' situation with Perez is a little more complicated. They would love to have a left-handed bat on the bench, but Jeff Larish is the name that more often comes up. The 26-year-old Larish can play the corner infield positions as well the outfield corners. Perez, who turns 34 next month, is limited to the outfield.

That doesn't mean any knock against his hitting.

"Timo Perez is probably the best pinch-hitter we've got," manager Jim Leyland said Monday. "We said that in the morning. I mean, he's a prototype pinch-hitter: Go up there and let it fly. He isn't going to go up there looking around, waiting around. If he likes it and puts a swing on it, he whacks it. Sometimes it goes at somebody, sometimes it [falls] in.

"Truthfully, he's probably the best pinch-hitter we've got. But the fact of the matter is, how much do we pinch-hit?"

Not much. For an outfielder, moreover, pinch-hitting for Carlos Guillen, Curtis Granderson or Magglio Ordonez would be almost none.

It has little to do with his hitting. And considering Monday's performance, no one's bashing his hitting for now.

Perez led off the Tigers' effort with a home run to left off Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer. Two innings later, Perez went the other direction and one-hopped the fence in right-center field for an RBI triple that started Detroit's game-tying rally. Two more singles followed.

That's what Perez brings to the game. But with the emergence of left-handed hitters Larish, Clete Thomas and Matt Joyce last year, Perez was never brought to Detroit, spending the entire season at Triple-A Toledo instead. His .302 average with the Mud Hens last year cracked the International League's top 10, while his ratio of 11.35 plate appearances for every strikeout made him the toughest to fan in the league.

His situation might not be much different this year. But his game probably won't be, either.

"I'm a veteran," Perez said. "They have a lot of younger players. But you never know. The season is long. I'll be ready for a surprise. One day they might call me. You never know."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

On January 28, 2010, Timo Perez signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers with an invite to spring training.

07/21/10Philadelphia Phillies signed free agent OF Timo Perez.

Former Tiger Perez suspended 50 games
By Jason Beck / MLB.com | 10/05/11 8:45 PM ET

NEW YORK -- Former Tigers farmhand Timo Perez was suspended for 50 games for violating the Minor League drug program.

An MLB press release stated that Perez, whose last big league time came with Detroit in 2007, tested positive for ritalinic acid and methylphenidate. It's a first-time violation for the veteran lefty hitter, who rejoined the Tigers organization and batted .304 with 32 doubles and 50 RBIs in 122 games for Triple-A Toledo.

The 36-year-old outfielder is currently a free agent. His suspension will take effect immediately once he signs with a Major League organization.