Martin Perez signed a one-year contract with Boston yesterday. He will be paid $6.5 million dollars in 2020 by the Red Sox.

His identical statistical twin, Kyle Gibson, will be paid nearly twice that, $11 million, in 2020 by the Texas Rangers.

The difference is the Red Sox are on the hook for their Martin Perez for just one year. The Rangers owe their Martin Perez ten million more in 2021 and seven million more in 2022.

In eight major league seasons, Martin Perez has an ERA of 4.72. Gibson, of 4.52. 

Perez’s career WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) is 1.486. Gibson’s is 1.411. 

A stat that attempts to value each player according to league average is ERA+. Perez’s is 96, meaning he is just slightly below league average of 100. Gibson’s is 94. Meaning he is just slightly below Martin Perez.

They are, for all intents and purposes, the same pitcher. Martin Perez, a 28-year-old left-hander. Gibson, a 32-year-old right-hander. Yet, the Red Sox got their version for about $22 million less.

It seems the price of pitching varies depending on who is doing the shopping.