15-Year Veteran Oliver Perez, Yankees Agree to Minor League Contract

The New York Yankees and free-agent relief pitcher Oliver Perez reached an agreement Saturday on a minor league contract.

Sporting News' Gary Phillips confirmed the signing and reported Perez will join the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

The 36-year-old Mexico native spent the past two seasons with the Washington Nationals. He posted a 4.64 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 33 innings for the Nats in 2017.

Perez signed with the Cincinnati Reds in late February but lasted less than a month with the club before getting released prior to the start of the regular season.

The Yankees will be his ninth MLB organization. Along with the Yanks, Reds and Nationals, he's also made stops with the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros during a career that started in 2002.

"I like new teams for the fresh air," Perez told reporters after signing with Cincinnati last month.

Although he'll start in the minors for the Yankees, he could easily made it to the big club in the coming months. Chasen Shreve is the team's only left-handed bullpen option aside from closer Aroldis Chapman, who's reserved for high-leverage situations.

At minimum, Perez should be called up in September when the rosters expand to 40 players.