After pitching at Double-A in the Washington Nationals' system in 2011, Oliver Perez became a reliever full time after Spin Williams suggested the move. He signed a two-year deal with the Nats this winter, returning to the organization as a late-inning lefty.
The Washington Nationals signed Oliver Perez in March of 2011, on the recommendation of Spin Williams, who knew the left-hander from the time the two spent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Williams was the Bucs' pitching coach then and Perez was a Pirates' starter.
Perez moved on the New York Mets in 2006, and Williams left the Pirates and joined the Nationals as an advisor and later a minor league pitching coordinator.