Cornerstone of early 2000s LA rotations, Odalis Perez passes away

Odalis Perez, one of the key arms of Dodger starting rotations of the early 2000s and a 2002 All-Star, has died.
His lawyer told ESPN that the former star pitcher died at his home in the Dominican Republic. Perez was 44 years old.
The Dodgers acquired the left-handed pitcher from the Atlanta Braves along with outfielder Brian Jordan for Gary Sheffield before the 2002 season. Perez played five seasons with the Dodgers from 2002–2006 and had a 45–40 record with a 3.94 ERA in 132 games (120 starts). He also played for the Braves, Royals and Nationals in a 10-season career from 1998 to 2008, going 73–82 with a 4.46 ERA.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
His best years were as a Dodger. In 2002, he went 15–10 with a 3.00 ERA in 222 1/3 innings. His 0.99 WHIP ranked second in the National League. He also hit his only career home run that season on Aug. 28 in a game in which he pitched eight scoreless innings.
Perez is one of 10 Dodgers all time to pitch a nine-inning shutout while facing the minimum 27 batters. He did so against the Cubs on April 26, 2002. Other names on that list include Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Dazzy Vance as well as Don Newcombe and Orel Hershiser.

The Dominican native started Games 1 and 4 of the 2004 National League Division Series for the Dodgers against the Cardinals.
Perez played his final game in 2008 with the Nationals.