Perez's chances of securing the No. 2 catcher job have increased significantly with the recent demotion of Tyler Soderstrom to Triple-A Las Vegas to start the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The veteran returned to Oakland on a minor-league contract with an invite to spring training on Jan. 5 after serving as Shea Langeliers' backup for the majority of the 2023 season. Perez made some serviceable offensive contributions in the process, generating a career-high six home runs and .650 OPS across 68 games. However, Perez has only posted a .111 average over 30 Cactus League plate appearances, and he still has to beat out Kyle McCann, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft who hit well at Triple-A last season.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Back with Oakland
Rotowire
Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Jan. 5.
Perez elected free agency after being removed from the A's 40-man roster back in October, but he wound up re-signing. The 33-year-old catcher collected a .650 OPS in 66 games for Oakland in 2023 in what was his first action in the majors since 2018.
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Carlos Perez: Heads to free agency
Rotowire
Perez elected free agency Monday.
Perez had been removed from the Athletics' 40-man roster and has opted for free agency in lieu of an outright assignment. The 32-year-old made it back to the majors in 2023 for the first time in five years, posting a .650 OPS in 66 games for Oakland.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Removed from 40-man roster
Rotowire
Perez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.
The Athletics did some housecleaning with their 40-man roster Thursday and Perez is one of the players to lose his spot. He'll remain in the organization and represent catching depth.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Squares up for sixth homer
Rotowire
Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run in a win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday.
Perez connected off Hyun Jin Ryu for a 410-foot shot to left field with Ryan Noda aboard in the fourth to erase a 1-0 deficit. The round tripper marked Perez's first time leaving the yard since June 30 and was the veteran's career-high sixth homer of the campaign. Perez should continue seeing semi-regular playing time over the final weeks of the season while filling in at catcher, first base and designated hitter.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Produces RBI in first post-IL start
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Perez went 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a run in a win over the Cardinals on Wednesday, his first start since being activated from the injured list Tuesday.
Perez had a pinch-hitting cameo in Tuesday's game and delivered a single in that capacity, and he then drew into the starting nine as the designated hitter Wednesday. The versatile veteran is capable of occasional offensive contributions and can fill in at both catcher and first base in addition to DH, so he should continue to see fairly regular playing time down the stretch.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Back from injured list
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Perez has been sidelined since the start of July with a fractured thumb, but he's ready to rejoin the A's after going 5-for-13 with two doubles, three RBI and six runs over a four-game rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas. He should fill a reserve role at catcher and first base now that he's healthy.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Big night for Vegas
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) started at catcher and played seven innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over the River Cats on Monday, going 3-for-4 with an RBI single, two doubles and three runs.
Perez has now played a full game as a designated hitter and has nearly accomplished the same on defense during his four-game rehab assignment. Given he's also gone 5-for-8 with Monday's pair of two-baggers and two RBI in his last two contests, Perez could be deemed ready for activation without any further rehab games.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Full rehab game at DH
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) took a full game's worth of plate appearances as the designated hitter in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to the River Cats on Saturday, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single, a walk and two runs.
It's the latest step in what's been a productive rehab assignment for Perez thus far. The veteran's next benchmark is likely to log at least seven innings on defense, as he was able to put in five frames behind the dish Thursday. If Perez manages the feat in his next contest with the Aviators, he may be deemed ready for activation.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Plays behind dish in rehab game
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) started at catcher and played five innings in Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to the River Cats on Thursday, going 0-for-1 with a run. He was also hit by a pitch.
Perez took four plate appearances as the designated hitter Tuesday before stepping in behind the dish for the first time on his rehab assignment Thursday. Assuming he experiences no residual effects from his first time playing defense in over a month, Perez may up his playing time in his next rehab game.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Makes rehab debut
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) filled the designated hitter role in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sacramento on Tuesday, going 0-for-4 with an RBI groundout before being pinch-hit for in the eighth inning.
Perez jumped back into game action for the first time since July 1 and appeared to get through his four plate appearances without issue. The veteran will likely test out his recovering thumb on defense as the next step in his rehab assignment and could be back up with the big-league club before the middle of August.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: On verge of rehab assignment
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) will partake in baseball activities before Sunday's game against the Giants before joining Triple-A Las Vegas to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
Perez has been sidelined for just over a month with his thumb fracture, but he's been making steady progress over the last couple of weeks in particular. The veteran's rehab assignment figures to last at least 3-to-4 games given the amount of time he's been sidelined.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Begins swing progression
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) has begun a swing progression after recently being medically cleared for such activity, the team's official site reports.
Perez's progress from a left thumb fracture remains somewhat deliberate, but this report is certainly encouraging. The veteran appears to still be more than a week from returning when factoring in a likely rehab assignment, and it's almost certain fellow backstop Manny Pina (wrist) will beat him back from the injured list considering the latter has already played in two minor-league games.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Remains sidelined by thumb issue
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) remains on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured left thumb.
Perez has been out of action since July 4 after suffering the injury, and while the Oakland medical staff determined shortly after he was placed on the IL that he won't need surgery, he's yet to make much progress. The backstop is without a concrete timetable for a return at this time.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Perez (thumb) was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, per the MLB's transactions log.
Perez hasn't seen any action since July 1 after going down with a left thumb fracture, but he's since been activated and will now make his way to the minors. The White Sox are expected to announce a corresponding move prior to Tuesday's matchup with the Giants.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Evaluation slated for coming week
Rotowire
Perez is slated to have his fractured left thumb evaluated by a doctor at some point this coming week, the team's official site reports.
Perez has been on the shelf since July 4 with the fracture, and it was subsequently determined he would not require surgery. If the veteran's progress is deemed to be sufficient during his evaluation, he could be cleared to begin strengthening activities as the next step in his recovery.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Doesn't need surgery on thumb
Rotowire
Manager Mark Kotsay said Thursday that Perez will not require surgery on his fractured left thumb, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
He will, however, need to wear a splint for at least two weeks. There is no timetable for Perez's return to the Athletics' active roster.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Goes down with fractured thumb
Rotowire
Perez was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured left thumb.
It's unclear how or when Perez suffered the injury, but clearly he's going to be on the shelf for a while. Manny Pina (wrist) is back from an injury himself to take Perez's roster spot.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Belts fifth homer
Rotowire
Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the White Sox on Friday.
The veteran's 384-foot shot to left center in the fifth inning extended Oakland's lead to 5-1 at the time. It was Perez's third consecutive start and fourth in the last five games -- he's increasingly carving out playing time with his ability to play first base, where he operated Friday, in addition to catcher. Perez's .238/.294/.393 slash line is nothing to write home about, but it's worth noting the first two metrics qualify as his highest since his rookie 2015 campaign, while his slugging percentage is a career best.
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Athletics' Carlos Perez: Three-hit day in loss
Rotowire
Perez went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, a solo home run and an additional run scored during an extra-innings loss to the Phillies on Saturday.
The reserve backstop made good use of one of his intermittent starting opportunities, recording the first run of the game on his 397-foot shot to left center in the fifth and then tying the contest at 2-2 in the 11th with his timely two-bagger. The highly productive night snapped an 0-for-23 skid that had encompassed Perez's last eight games and gave the veteran his first multi-extra-base-hit effort of the campaign. Perez continues to see occasional playing time behind Shea Langeliers and currently sports a career-best .706 OPS, but his role is expected to eventually be altered to some degree once Manny Pina (wrist) is able to make his season debut.
