I would have never thought this would have been a discussion a month ago, but I believe Sox have to pick up the option on Martin Perez for 2026.  

According to the link below, it's a $10 option with a $1.5 million buyout if not exercised (essentially making it $8.5 million)

With the way he fought to come back this year and the way he pitched since coming back, he could be a good role model for our young players and an important part of the rotation if we are to contend for a division title in 2026.

What you all think?

https://www.mlb.com/news/martin-perez-white-sox-deal

Seems like a no brainer to me. 

I believe I heard that he definitely wants to stay.

I think it'll be up to him (mutual option). $10mil is good value for a team. But he's pretty old, will a different team give him more? He should have 4-5 more starts, let's see what he does. Could price himself out of the option.

With how much money has been wasted on Clevinger over the last 3 years (20 million?), I don’t see why not.  But I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sox buy him out and offer him a smaller one year deal to save a couple million or so.

Edited August 27, 2025Aug 27 by WhiteSox2023

I think you can get him cheaper. Of course Siroka got $9 million so I'm probably wrong.

It's a mutual option, so his agent will be testing the waters before the deadline to gauge interest from other teams.

I love those mutual options when they work out....When AJ Pollock turned down his option in November 2022, I remember thinking "my feelings are fucking mutual fella!!!"

Right now I say yes but pitching is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.

I think some team will offer him two years and he'll walk. But if he wants to come back 10 million for a year seems fair. Someone has to eat some innings.

That’s more than likely a wrap on Martin Perez.  Merkin was quick to publish the article linked below. 

$6.5 million ($5 million salary plus $1.5 million buyout) for 10 starts and 56 innings pitched.

“Pérez exits finale against O's with apparent injury“

59 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

That’s more than likely a wrap on Martin Perez.  Merkin was quick to publish the article linked below. 

$6.5 million ($5 million salary plus $1.5 million buyout) for 10 starts and 56 innings pitched.

“Pérez exits finale against O's with apparent injury“

As Hawk would say "He gone..."

There is no way both party's pick up the option.

2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

That’s more than likely a wrap on Martin Perez.  Merkin was quick to publish the article linked below. 

$6.5 million ($5 million salary plus $1.5 million buyout) for 10 starts and 56 innings pitched.

“Pérez exits finale against O's with apparent injury“

Nice work if you can get it. More wasted JR's precious money. 

2 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Nice work if you can get it. More wasted JR's precious money. 

Biggest off season move in terms of salary, right?

31 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Biggest off season move in terms of salary, right?

Yes.

Sucks that guys get injured, but he pitched 135, 141.2, 196 innings the last three years. He's been good when he's pitched this year. 

But yeah, tough month, I pretty much change my mind about wanting him to come back after reading his quotes. I don't fault him, but if he's worried about being seriously injured because he has some soreness in his shoulder, that doesn't bode well for a starting pitcher.

Maybe in a lower paid relief role. He's an awesome dude and we need a proper lefty. 

dump him. nothing personal. spend the money on anything else.

19 minutes ago, nrockway said:

Sucks that guys get injured, but he pitched 135, 141.2, 196 innings the last three years. He's been good when he's pitched this year. 

But yeah, tough month, I pretty much change my mind about wanting him to come back after reading his quotes. I don't fault him, but if he's worried about being seriously injured because he has some soreness in his shoulder, that doesn't bode well for a starting pitcher.

Maybe in a lower paid relief role. He's an awesome dude and we need a proper lefty. 

Shoulder injuries ... caveat emptor.

Absolutely pass

3 hours ago, zisk said:

dump him. nothing personal. spend the money on anything else.

they're good at that  - Clevinger was anything else

Luis Arraez will get everyone in the lineup to focus on making contact lol.

Tbh, not sure he even gets $10 million per season.  Ops has been around 700-720 for most of the year and average down about 30-40 points from usual standards.

6 hours ago, kitekrazy said:

they're good at that  - Clevinger was anything else

$1.5 million for a 7.94 ERA in 5.2 major league innings ain’t half bad…  for Clevinger that is.  That’s over $250K per awful inning of work.

Edited September 18, 2025Sep 18 by WhiteSox2023

This has become a brainer

1 hour ago, Kyyle23 said:

This has become a brainer

I think at this point, you buy him out. If you want to bring him back, givehim something similar to this year, maybe a little less since he couldn’t answer the bell. Who knows what this latest problem is. That could make it a no brainer.