MLB Rumors: Red Sox Sign Martin Perez, Dodgers Eye Madison Bumgarner After Losing Out On Gerrit Cole

After seeing Rick Porcello agree to terms with the New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox have made the decision to sign free agent pitcher Martin Perez after losing out on both Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg while the Los Angeles Dodgers are closing in on a deal for Madison Bumgarner.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Red Sox have signed Martin Perez to a one-year $6 million contract with a club option for the 2021 season worth $6.25 million. The move comes shortly after Boston saw veteran starter Rick Porcello sign with the Mets, leaving a gap in their rotation.

Perez turns 29 in the spring and went 10-7 in 32 starts for the Minnesota Twins in 2019, posting an ERA of 5.12 in the process. The long-time Texas Ranger has been utilized as both a starter and reliever in his career and Boston could also use Perez as an opener to get the first few outs of the game.

He joins a southpaw-heavy rotation with Chris Sale, David Price and Eduardo Rodriguez already at the club. Nathan Eovaldi is currently the only right-handed starter at Fenway Park. In 173 career appearances, Perez sits at 53-56 with a 4.72 ERA.

Meanwhile, across the country, another starting pitcher might sign for a new team soon. Bumgarner has had to wait patiently while he saw several other free agent starters sign for new clubs. Cole and Strasburg were the blue-chip players available at the position so they were gobbled up by the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels respectively.

Now that they are off the market, teams are circling the long-time San Francisco Giant. While Bumgarner has attracted attention from the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Giants, Twins and Angels, it is the Los Angeles Dodgers who are closest to signing the 30-year-old.

According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Bumgarner is one of the likeliest free agents to sign a new contract soon. The Dodgers were interested in both Cole and Strasburg so they will be motivated buyers. Zack Wheeler got $118 million from the Philadelphia Phillies which experts say is slightly more than Bumgarner should expect.

Insiders predict a five-year contract worth at least $100 million for Bumgarner be it from the Dodgers or elsewhere.