Report: Cubs reliever optioned to Iowa |
CINCINNATI – The Chicago Cubs today selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Joel Peralta from Triple-A Iowa. To make room for Peralta on Chicago’s 25-man roster, left-handed pitcher Gerardo Concepcion was optioned to Triple-A Iowa following yesterday’s game. Chicago’s 40-man roster now stands at 40.
Peralta, who will wear uniform number 62, will be available for the Cubs tonight when they open their three-game series in Cincinnati. The 40-year-old Peralta signed a minor league deal with the Cubs on June 13 after beginning the season with the Seattle Mariners, where he went 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA (14 ER/23.1 IP) in 26 relief appearances before being designated for assignment on June 2. With Seattle, Peralta limited left-handed hitters to a .209 batting average (9-for-43) and a .261 on-base percentage. With Iowa, Peralta posted no record with two saves and a 4.50 ERA (2 ER/4.0 IP) in five relief appearances, limiting all foes to a .176 batting average against. Peralta has pitched 12 major leagues seasons and posted a 20-34 record with 169 holds, 15 saves and a 4.00 ERA (286 ER/644.0 IP) in 615 appearances, all in relief, with the Los Angeles Angels (2005), Kansas City (2006-08), Colorado (2009), Washington (2010), Tampa Bay (2011-14), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015) and Seattle (2016). He has limited all opponents to a .232 batting average, including a .225 batting average by lefties and a .238 average by righties. The righthander arguably turned in his best big league seasons during his time with Tampa Bay, totaling 97 holds in a three-season span from 2011-13, including a major league best 37 holds in 2012 and a career-high, major league leading 41 holds in 2013. Overall, Peralta posted a 3.58 ERA (107 ER/269.1 IP), struck out 293 batters in 269.1 innings and limited left-handed hitters to a .187 batting average (99-for-530) during those four seasons pitching for Tampa Bay in the American League East. Concepcion, 24, has no record and a 3.86 ERA (1 ER/2.1 IP) in three relief appearances with the Cubs this season. He has combined to go 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (5 ER/35.0 IP) in 22 relief appearances between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa this year.
