Chris Perez won't be a free agent this winter, but it appears unlikely that he'll return as closer for the Cleveland Indians.
Perez is earning $7.3 million this season and is one year away from free agency. He may earn as much as $9 million in 2014.
He is 5-2 with a 3.59 ERA and 22 saves (25 chances) this season.
The Indians tested the trade market for Perez a year ago, but opted to keep him rather than turn the job over to an untested reliever. Maturity and consistency issues have turned Cleveland off on his future.