The Cubs admitted the obvious Monday night: Veteran reliever Mike Perez was too hittable to keep on the roster. So to make room for newly arrived starter Mike Campbell, the Cubs designated the 31-year-old right-hander for assignment.
“I’m not surprised about it,” said Perez. “I know it was a business decision and I just thanked (manager Jim Riggleman) for giving me the opportunity.”
Perez, who made 68 appearances last season and had a respectable 3.66 earned-run average, struggled in 1996, especially with his favorite pitch, the slider. His ERA was more than a full run higher than last year and opponents were hitting .264 against him.
“We had to make a move and it had to be somebody,” Riggleman said. “Mike was the one that was a logical option for us.”
Newcomer: In what amounts to an audition of sorts, Campbell joined the Cubs in preparation for his scheduled Tuesday night start against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“That’s how it always is,” said Campbell, who began the season in Triple-A Iowa and compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.38 ERA. “I’ve been around long enough to know.”
Campbell, 32, said he was disappointed about not making the team out of spring training, but “getting called up in the middle of the season is a lot better than not getting called up at all.”