Chris Perez signs minor-league deal with Milwaukee Brewers.

Chris Perez, who did little to distinguish himself in his only season in a Dodgers uniform, signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers that includes an invitation to spring training.

Perez went 1-3 with a 4.27 earned run average in 49 relief appearances, struggling especially in high-leverage situations. The Dodgers didn’t re-sign the 29-year-old right-hander after the season.

The Dodgers haven’t finalized their 25-man NLDS roster. Who’s still on the bubble?

Carlos Frias

Carlos Frias could be on the bubble for one of the Dodgers’ final NLDS roster spots. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Dodgers are “probably 99, 98 percent where we want to be” in deciding their roster for the National League Division Series, manager Don Mattingly said Thursday afternoon. The St. Louis Cardinals announced their roster earlier Thursday. Rosters are due to MLB tomorrow morning, and the Dodgers must winnow their manpower from 37 to 25.

Some decisions were made Tuesday, when five players were given permission to return either to their off-season home or the Dodgers’ spring training facility in Arizona.

A few more decisions have been made in the last 48 hours:
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Carlos Frias could force Dodgers to re-think middle innings in October.

Carlos Frias

Carlos Frias shut out the Washington Nationals for six innings in his first major-league start Wednesday. (Michael Owen Baker/Staff photographer)


Call it rational thought, but when Carlos Frias arrived in the Dodgers’ clubhouse in August, the tendency was to force the rookie pitcher into a limited array of roles.

Emergency spot starter.

Long reliever, preferably during an inconsequential blowout.

That’s what happens to 24-year-old rookies who had never pitched above Double-A baseball prior to the current year, who had an ERA in the fives during his first Triple-A season, right?
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First wave of Dodgers call-ups arrive, sans Carlos Triunfel (designated for assignment).

Alex Guerrero

Alex Guerrero hit four home runs in his final 10 games with Triple-A Albuquerque. (Associated Press photo)

Of all the transactions the Dodgers made Monday, when rosters were allowed to expand past the previous 25-man limit, only one could be considered a surprise.

Infielder Carlos Triunfel, whom the Dodgers claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in April, was designated for assignment.

By removing Triunfel from the 40-man roster, the Dodgers were able to add Joc Pederson to their 40-man roster. Pederson was joined by infielder Alex Guerrero, catcher Tim Federowicz and pitcher Yimi Garcia on the Albuquerque-to-Los Angeles express Monday. Infielders Miguel Rojas and Erisbel Arruebarrena and pitcher Carlos Frias are expected to arrive in the Dodgers’ clubhouse tomorrow.

Pederson and Garcia will be making their major-league debuts.

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Chris Perez (ankle) will start Thursday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

Chris Perez will start Thursday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga as he continues his rehab from bone spurs in his right ankle, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

“If he holds up good in that setting, then we try to get him into a bullpen situation where he’s trying to get into our routine,” the manager said.

There is no exact timetable for Perez to return, but Mattingly suggested the pitcher might need two or three more rehab games. Perez “didn’t look like he was favoring (his right) ankle” when he threw a scoreless inning Monday night for Rancho Cucamonga, Mattingly said.

Technically, Perez was eligible to come off the disabled list today. The 29-year-old right-hander has a 5.04 ERA in 42 appearances for the Dodgers this season.