Chris Perez suspended 50 games for drug of abuse

Major League Baseball has announced that free agent pitcher Chris Perez has been suspended 50 games for “a drug of abuse.” This is Perez’s second time being disciplined by MLB for a drug issue.

The long-time Indians closer didn’t do his chances of latching on with another team any favors, as he was already coming off a rough patch in AAA with the Brewers that saw him pitch to a 9.39 ERA in 7.2 innings. Perez last saw big-league action in 2014 with the Dodgers, recording a much more respectable 4.27 ERA in 46.1 innings. He did, however, have the highest walk rate of his career (4.9 BB/9) and lowest strikeout rate since 2009 (7.6 K/9).

Perez’s best bet to get back into baseball could very well be pursuing opportunities overseas or in independent ball. While he may get another chance with a big-league club, with two suspensions and poor recent performance, there’s a possibility he might have run out of strikes.

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