The Seattle Mariners have opted to release veteran catcher Michael Perez, who had been playing for their Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma, as reported by Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto. This move paves the way for the return of Seby Zavala to the Rainiers after he cleared outright waivers. Zavala, alongside Michael Papierski, will now assume catching duties in Tacoma, providing experienced depth behind Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver.
Perez, aged 31, arrived at the Mariners earlier this season along with reliever Mike Baumann in a minor trade that saw minor league catcher Blake Hunt move to Baltimore. Throughout his career, Perez has seen action in parts of six Major League seasons with the Rays, Pirates, and Mets. He holds a career batting line of .179/.248/.306 in 599 plate appearances, indicating below-average offensive performance (48% below average by wRC+). Despite his offensive struggles, Perez is noted for his strong throwing arm and adept blocking skills. He boasts a career caught-stealing rate of 29%, positioning him among the game’s proficient catchers in these defensive aspects. However, his framing metrics have typically been subpar.
Although Perez has faced challenges in Triple-A over the past two seasons, he has demonstrated success at that level throughout his career. Across six Triple-A campaigns, the left-handed batter has compiled a .236/.324/.405 slash line with 36 home runs, 31 doubles, and two triples in 975 plate appearances. Following his release, Perez is now poised to explore opportunities in the free-agent market, potentially appealing to teams in need of catching depth, particularly those seeking a defensively skilled option for their upper minor league rosters.
