Cionel Perez

After strugging to carve out a meaningful bullpen role with Houston or Cinncinati due to his perennially high walk (6.0 BB/9) and home run (2.0 HR/9) rates, Perez had the best season of his young career with the Orioles. The southpaw made the club out of spring training and got off to a hot start, permitting just one earned run over the first two months of 2022. He pitched a career-high 57.2 innings across 66 appearances, with both totals surpassing what he had accumulated over the past four seasons combined. Perez significantly improved his walk rate, but it was still below league-average at 9%. He averaged a career-best 97 mph on his fastball, but he didn't exactly blow hitters away (23.5% K-rate). His expected metrics suggest ratio regression is in store for 2023 and if the walks creep up again, his role as the O's top lefty setup man could be in jeopardy.

Perez is an undersized (5-foot-11) southpaw with significant pedigree who fits best as a high-leverage reliever capable of getting more than three outs. He is technically competing for a spot in the starting rotation this spring, but is more of a depth option in that competition. Signed out of Cuba for $5.15 million in 2016, Perez boasts a 70-grade mid-90s fastball that is a swing-and-miss pitch in any count. His above-average breaking ball plays nicely off the heater, but he lacks a true third pitch. This would not preclude him from going three or four innings as a starter in a piggyback game -- the Astros have been utilizing this strategy in the minors, allowing multiple pitchers to throw around four innings rather than asking one pitcher to turn a lineup over more than twice. However, Perez would generate the most fantasy value as a Josh Hader type of reliever who picks up wins and the occassional save. Perez is more of a ratio risk than Hader, and he lacks that type of strikeout upside, so he has minimal fantasy value at this point in most formats.

The Cuban defector signed a deal in September with the Astros that included a $5.15 million signing bonus. However, the deal was voided in October due to an unspecified medical issue. He later signed with the Astros again for $2 million. If he can overcome the medical concern, Perez may quickly become the top left-handed pitching prospect in the Astros organization. He features a mid-to-low-90s fastball, a breaking ball with above average potential and a changeup that he is still working on developing, as he didn't use it much in Cuba. Perez's last season in Cuba was impressive, as he posted a 2.06 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 17 starts. Given his incomplete repertoire and slight stature (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), Perez carries plenty of bullpen risk. Without frontline upside or any stateside success, he can be simply monitored in most dynasty leagues for now.