Angels, searching for offense, call up catcher Carlos Perez

The Angels tinkered with their sputtering offense on Monday, calling up catcher Carlos Perez from triple-A Salt Lake and designating catcher Drew Butera for assignment.

The Angels’ offense ranks last in the American League with a .628 OPS. Angels catchers also rank last in the AL with a .340 OPS.

Butera, as the backup catcher, was not really the problem. He had a .190 batting average in 21 at-bats.

Chris Iannetta, the starting catcher, is batting .098, with no home runs and 22 strikeouts in 61 at-bats. Iannetta does have a .200 on-base percentage -- thanks to eight walks, tied for third on the team behind Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun.

Perez, 24, was batting .361 with two home runs and a .963 OPS at Salt Lake. Iannetta -- and not Perez -- was in the Angels’ starting lineup Monday.

Perez has not appeared in the major leagues. The Angels acquired him and pitcher Nick Tropeano last November from the Houston Astros, for catcher Hank Conger.

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