Chris Perez

2013

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2012

Perez had a stranglehold on the closer spot all season long, resulting in a 36-save season. He was far from dominant despite his gaudy save total, and the huge drop in his strikeout rate (8.71 K/9IP to 5.88) has to raise some warning flags. He's still fighting the control demons (3.92 BB/9IP last year, 4.29 for his career) but he has been able to walk the tightrope so far. The Indians have a nice flame-throwing setup man in Vinnie Pestano, but there's no reason to think Perez is in any danger of losing his grip on the closer job despite some warning signs in his non-save numbers. He'll be back as the team's closer and should eclipse the 30-save mark again this year.

2011

Perez got a shot to close games after an injury to Kerry Wood in spring training and inherited the role full time upon Wood's trade to the Yankees, racking up 23 saves with a sparkling 1.71 ERA. He was absolutely dominant in the season's second half (0.63 ERA, 16 saves, 0.872 WHIP, 32 K in 28.2 IP) as he allowed just two earned runs after June 28. The only remaining issue is a few too many walks (4.0 BB/9IP last year), but that's an improvement from his days with the Cardinals. He'll return as the team's closer to open the season with a clear path to 30-plus saves.

2010

Perez was lights out for the Indians after a midseason trade, though his ERA (4.32) may not reflect just how well he pitched. A 1.080 WHIP, 10.3 K/9IP and a 3.17 K/BB ratio point to him being more than capable of closing out games if the rebuilding Indians decide to trade Kerry Wood and the rest of his contract ($10.5 million in 2010 and an $11 million option if he finishes 55 games in 2010). Perez makes for a great closer-in-waiting candidate as offseason surgery to remove a bone and cyst in his foot should be of no concern.

2009

Perez has been called the St. Louis "Closer of the Future" for a few years now, and in 2008 he finally got his chance. He was nearly perfect in August before hitting the wall in September. He'll compete with Jason Motte for the closer role this year, but if Motte pitches as well in March as he did in 2008, Perez will have an uphill climb.

2008

Although Perez played at three levels last year, his control abandoned him at every turn. Perez walked 76 batters in 106 innings, but his strikeout rate was high as well, including 13.72 K/9 in 39 appearances for Double-A Springfield. Perez looks like the top candidate to eventually replace Jason Isringhausen, but he’ll have to get his control problems straightened out before the Cardinals give him a chance.