The Tigers are expected to exercise their 2013 option for Jhonny Peralta following a strong postseason showing from the shortstop, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. The Tigers consider the $6MM option “reasonable,” according to Heyman.
The Tigers would ideally like to have a shortstop with more range than Peralta, especially with Miguel Cabrera beside him at third base. There’s a chance GM Dave Dombrowski could explore deals for shortstops after exercising the option, Heyman reports. Yunel Escobar figures to be available, but he doesn’t appear to interest the Tigers.
Peralta, who homered in Game One of the World Series last night, posted a .239/.305/.384 batting line in 585 plate appearances with Detroit this past year. The Tigers would have to pay the 30-year-old a $500K buyout if they don't exercise his option. Back in September I explained that the option would likely appeal to the Tigers given the scarcity of alternatives available.
Can’t say I’d wanna take Yunel Escobar either…over Peralta.
Was there really ever a question?
I don’t think there’s anything on the open market that would be a definite improvement. The Tigers have Danny Worth and Ramon Santiago as internal replacement candidates, neither of whom would match Peralta’s offensive output. Next year will be his age 31 season and I think he could at least duplicate his 2012 line. Fangraphs has liked his defense the past couple seasons. I think most would agree that he lacks range – but he rarely makes mistakes on what he gets to. As a Tigers fan, I find all of this to be acceptable for 2013.
I would surely second this.
Unless we trade for Andrus or somehow pry Profar away we must bring Peralta back.
His bat was terrible this year really…and he is sloooowwwwww in everything…slow in ranging either direction, slow in turning a DP, hit into 22 GIDP and can’t go the extra base on hits unless it is a no brainer…..nice hands and his bat should regress to mean in 2013 to closer to his career 265/330/420 ….but he’s only 30 and his athleticism is gone….any years past this option don’t look like a bargain unless he is consistently at his peak year 2011 300/350/470 output….$6m is fine I guess, but he’ll be gone after 2013 and hopefully 21yr old MiLB Gold Glove SS award and prospectively decent 280ish contact/speed hitter Eugenio Suarez is ready, if not all glove not much stick Hernan Perez will get a shot as a bridge
It’s a horrible way to do business if you are picking up contracts based on the extremely small sample that the playoffs give.
But if they are exercising Peralta’s option because there aren’t better alternatives and because he is still reasonably productive and priced, than that’s alright. I would just take issue with keeping a guy based solely on postseason performance.
Yea it really has nothing to do with the postseason. It’s just the fact of the matter that there’s really no quality free agents at that position. Only way to make an upgrade would to be through a big trade…..Which is possible.
Would LOVE to have Escobar. Speed, range, and youth.
Oops.. I want KC’s Alicides Escobar. My bad.