Tigers acquire Neifi Perez from Chicago Cubs

[Tigers#1]

Tigers acquire Neifi Perez from Chicago Cubs

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers announced today the club has acquired infielder Neifi Perez from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Chris Robinson.
Perez, 33, was hitting .254 (60-for-236) in 87 games with the Cubs this season. He has scored 27 runs, while collecting 13 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 24 RBIs. Perez saw action at second base (53 games), third base (10 games) and shortstop (21 games) for Chicago.

A veteran of 11 seasons at the major league level with the Colorado Rockies (1996-2001), Kansas City Royals (2001-02), San Francisco Giants (2003-04) and Cubs (2004-06), Perez has compiled a .269 batting average (1,346-for-4,998) in 1,349 games during his career.

Robinson was hitting .286 (92-for-322) with 22 doubles, a home run and 47 RBI in 95 games at Class A Lakeland. Robinson's contract will be assigned to Class A Daytona by the Cubs.

[Panzram]

Woo hoo! That's the push we need to win the series! :tongue1:

[Tigers#1]

Tigers turn down Loretta trade; Make deal for Neifi Perez

The Detroit Tigers traded for a second-baseman on Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't Alfonso Soriano from the Washington Nationals or Mark Loretta of the Boston Red Sox. Instead, the Tigers traded minor-league catcher Chris Robinson to the Chicago Cubs for second-baseman/shortstop/third baseman Neifi Perez according to the Associated Press.
August 20, ESPN.com: "He's a legitimate everyday player and an outstanding utility player," Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said.

Perez played 87 games for the Cubs this season and hit .254 with two homers and 24 RBI. The 11-year veteran has a career .269 average with the Cubs, San Francisco, Kansas City and Colorado.

In the trade, the Tigers gave up catcher Chris Robinson. He hit .286 with a homer and 47 RBI at Single-A Lakeland. His contract is expected to be assigned to Single-A Daytona by the Cubs.
Perez is a switch-hitter who will help provide depth at three infield positions. According to the Chicago Cubs official website, he signed a 2-year, $5 million contract ($2.5 million a season) with the Cubs during the off-season, so he will likely join Omar Infante as a backup infielder for the Tigers next season.

According to Baseball America's Jim Callis, Perez will provide the Tigers with a great glove at second base.
August 20, Baseball America: Perez, 33, will make more of an impact with his glove than his bat. He's very limited offensively, hitting for a decent average but offering little power, speed or on-base ability. He's batting .254/.266/.343 with two homers and 24 RBIs in 87 games this year. Perez is versatile enough to handle second base, shortstop and the hot corner, and he has reliable hands and a strong arm. He's making $2.5 million this season and next, thanks to a two-year deal he signed as a free agent last offseason. Perez is a career .269/.299/.378 hitter with 63 homers and 478 RBIs in 1,349 games.
As for Loretta, the Red Sox attempted to ship their starting second-baseman to Detroit, but according to the Boston Globe, the price was too high for the Tigers.
August 19, Boston Globe: The Red Sox, seeking to take advantage of Detroit's need for a second baseman after Placido Polanco separated his left shoulder here Tuesday night, offered Mark Loretta to the Tigers for pitching help, according to industry sources, but could not strike a deal.

Loretta's name had surfaced before the July 31 trading deadline, and he became available again during the waiver trading period when he cleared waivers. The Sox asked the Tigers for two players on their big league roster; with lefthander Mike Maroth due to return soon from a rehab stint, the Tigers have a surplus of arms. Among the pitchers the Sox may have asked for were starters Zach Miner and Wilfredo Ledezma and lefthanded reliever Jamie Walker.