New York Mets Sign 9-Year Veteran Pitcher
The Nationals outrighted Perez from their 40-man roster last week, a move that came without warning after he tossed two scoreless innings in a loss to the Brewers the day before.
Washington had opened a spot for right-hander Orlando Ribalta and with multiple other relievers carrying options, Perez was the odd man out.
He passed through waivers unclaimed and chose to exercise his right to free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Rochester.
By doing so, Perez retains approximately $1.5 million of his $1.9 million guaranteed salary from the Nationals, with his new team responsible only for the prorated league minimum.
The Mets signed him shortly after, giving their decimated bullpen a left-handed option who brings some pedigree despite the struggles of the last two seasons.
The Case for Perez
The argument for Perez starts with 2022.
He made 66 appearances for the Baltimore Orioles that year, posting a 1.40 ERA across 57.2 innings with 55 strikeouts, establishing himself overnight as one of the better setup men in the American League.
He followed that with a 3.54 ERA in 65 appearances for Baltimore in 2023 and a 4.53 ERA in 62 appearances in 2024, numbers that were functional if not spectacular, before an 8.31 ERA in 19 appearances last season with the Orioles led to his release.
Cuban left-hander reliever Cionel Pérez has signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets, per sources.
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) May 6, 2026
He arrived in Washington on a minor league deal in February, made the Opening Day roster, and threw 16 innings with a 4.50 ERA before the Nationals moved on.
His stuff remains legitimate.
He sat at 95.7 mph on his four-seamer and 95.5 mph on his sinker with Washington in spring training, metrics that suggest the velocity has not abandoned him the way it has other relievers who have declined at his age.
The walk rate has been the persistent issue, with Perez struggling to consistently throw strikes across his last two seasons in a way that his 2022 peak never suggested would become a problem.
Why the Mets Needed This
New York's bullpen carries a 5.07 ERA that ranks among the worst in the National League.
The unit has been the primary reason the Mets spent nearly two weeks of the season on a losing streak despite having one of the most expensive offensive rosters in baseball.
Cionel Pérez did not accept his minor league assignment and has opted to become a free agent. As a player with at least 5 years of Major League service, Cionel Pérez had the option to declare free agency in lieu of accepting his outright assignment.
— Talk Nats (@TalkNats) May 4, 2026
Left-handed depth has been a specific problem, with Reed Garrett, Drew Smith, and A.J. Minter all spending time on the injured list at various points.
Perez does not fix everything.
But a 30-year-old left-hander who throws 95 mph and has pitched in over 200 big league games across eight seasons gives the Mets a decent arm to work with while the roster gets healthier.
Photo Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
