The Sunday Read: Martin Perez has been great this season. Here’s how he can sustain it

(AP photo/Darren Yamashita)

ARLINGTON — Truth be told, Martin Perez was not the left-hander the Texas Rangers were hoping to sign when the MLB lockout ended in March.

They wanted Clayton Kershaw, the Dallas resident who did entertain the idea of playing half his games only 30 minutes from home.

Alas, Kershaw wanted to win now, and the Los Angeles Dodgers could best offer that if he re-signed with them. He did.

So, for $4 million the Rangers and Perez agreed to a reunion. The goal was for Perez to eat innings in a rotation that figured to be young behind right-hander Jon Gray, the big offseason pitching acquisition.

There was also a belief that he would perform better than he did in 2021 with Boston.

Just not this much better.