Orioles acquire Audry Perez from Rockies
By Roch Kubatko
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles added to their collection of catchers today, acquiring Audry Perez from the Rockies for cash considerations, according to multiple sources.
Perez, 26, appeared in three major league games with the Cardinals over the past two seasons and has two plate appearances. The Rockies signed him in November as a minor league free agent and he was 1-for-11 this spring.
Perez, listed at 5-foot-9 and 230 lbs., is a career .270/.293/.413 hitter in seven minor league seasons. He batted .292/.298/.419 last season in 62 games with Triple-A Memphis.
The Orioles view Perez as a solid defender and a capable bat for Triple-A Norfolk.
Matt Wieters is headed to the disabled list and Caleb Joseph is projected as the starter. Ryan Lavarnway and Steve Clevenger remain in camp as backup candidates. J.P. Arencibia and Brian Ward have been reassigned to minor league camp.
Arencibia is nursing a strained right flexor mass.
The Orioles have a logjam behind the plate in Triple-A. They value Ward's defense and think he could catch in the majors, so he appears to be safe.
Clevenger broke camp last spring as the backup to Wieters, but he remains a trade candidate.
