The Tigers declined their $7.25MM option on shortstop Jhonny Peralta, according to the team's Twitter feed. They'll pay a $250K buyout instead. Via that same feed comes a quote from Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski: "We remain optimistic that a deal can be worked out between Jhonny and the club." MLB.com's Jason Beck exchanged emails with Peralta's agent Seth Levinson, who shares Dombrowski's optimism.
Peralta, 28, is eligible for free agency for the first time in his career. This year he hit .249/.311/.392 with 15 home runs in 615 plate appearances for the Indians and Tigers, coming to Detroit in a July 28th trade. He played third base exclusively this year for the Indians, but spent most of his time with the Tigers at shortstop. With Brandon Inge already locked in, the Tigers would continue to use Peralta at short. On October 26th, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports wrote that the team is "expected to reach an agreement" with Peralta on a two-year deal, perhaps a touch less than Inge's $11.5MM. It seems unlikely that the Tigers would offer Peralta arbitration on the November 23rd deadline, but he is a Type B free agent.
Dave – Save your money
Who’s out there that’s 1.) available and 2.) better than Peralta?
I saw this coming, but I still say they re-sign him.
Agreed. Only question is do they offer arbitration here too.
I think they do. Worst case you get “stuck” with Peralta for about $5.5M. Too much for him, but given the horrible SS market, not the worst 1 year deal out there.
Don’t get why they wouldn’t. If they are really willing to offer a 2 year deal worse for a touch less than what Inge got. People seem to think Peralta will get over $7M in arby….guy made less than $5M this year and had a horrific year at the plate.
Even if he accepts arby, he probably would be open to a 2 year deal at like $8-9M…..which is what it sounds like the Tigers are willing to offer anyways.
Maybe they work something out in the coming days. They have exclusive negotiating rights until 11:59 PM ET Saturday.
ha, well yeah. I don’t doubt they’re working on something as we speak.
Why would they want Peralta back? He is a below average defender and not a patient hitter or decent contact hitter. As a non Tigers fan I approve of this.
Not many other options for the Tigers at short.
It all comes down to SS options, there aren’t many true All star short stops anymore. Especially availible all star short stops. You have to remember Jhonny is only 28, he may have a couple more .260/25/80 seasons left in him. With Inge’s range at third it helps his defense, he has no range but he can make the regular plays and has a great arm. They tried going with defense last year and Everett failed horribly. If they can do a 2 year $9 million deal it will be reasonble.
Well since he had a .701 OPS this year, the Tigers really wouldn’t be going with offense.
I find his numbers to be offensive! Barely a .300 OBP, barely a .700 OPS.
Renteria hit .270 with a .700 OPS for the Tigers in 2008. He didn’t make errors in the field, but he had very limited range, especially going to his right. Who does that sound like? Two years of Adam Everett can change people’s minds about what you expect in a shortstop.
I agree. People forget how young He is and leaving Cleveland seems to help everyone who does. I think peralta is the best option for Detroit and wouldn’t be surprised if next year is his best yet at the plate. I wouldnt put at .280 with 25 hrs season past him and that would be awesome production from the 7/8 hitter.
That wouldn’t be his best season though.
I do think he’s capable of it. I mean just 2-3 years ago he was the best hitting SS in the AL (best OPS, most HRs, most runs, most doubles, most RBIs…yet Jeter wins the Silver Slugger, go figure).
Wedge and his staff did mess him up I think. Don’t think Detroit’s park is the best for him for the HR ball but he can hit that right CF gap as well as anyone at times, and Detroit has a big one.
Sadly, Peralta is the 2nd best FA SS after Jeter, who is going nowhere
2nd best FA – try Uribe – a WS MVP named Edgar – JJ Hardy – Jason Barlett.
Hardy and Bartlett are not FAs. Trade candidates, yes.
I’d love it if the tigers traded for Bartlett. Tigers need to start building for speed around Cabrera.
Bartlett isn’t a FA yet, but could be available on the trade market. Hardy might be available, and might not be.
I think I’d prefer Peralta to the first two guys you mentioned (he’s younger), and the latter two guys, while better, are not free agents.
I think I’d prefer Peralta to the first two guys you mentioned (he’s younger), and the latter two guys, while better, are not free agents.
Don’t even talk about Edgar to Detroit fans…I miss you Jair.
That was an awful trade. To think we could have had jurjens as the 4 spot in the rotation thus year is gut wrenching. DD has had his share of retarded trades(and some really good ones in his defense) but that might have been the worst out of all of them.
The Miguel Cabrera trade makes me forgive DD most of the time, despite Dontrelle and his ridiculous contract. But yea, the Renteria trade stings to this day
Ya. The trade was fine. I mean look at Andrew Miller (non-tender candidate) and Cameron Maybin (up and down up and down), the three-year dontrelle extension however was terrible.
Peralta>Edgar and no way in HELL would we bring him back.
I don’t see why Detroit needs to resign him, they already have Santiago. A depth move maybe?
The tigers have never trusted santiagobwith an every day role. Plus he seems to wear down towards the end of the year even as a utility player so his durability is a legitimate concern.
The tigers are a great fit for peralta and the atmosphere has been good for him. McClendon is a great hitting coach and I think a whole offseason and spring of working with jhonny will do some good. Don’t sleep on peralta–he is still young and poised to have a career year next year in Detroit.
Maybe Santiago wears down because he plays winter ball every single year. I never saw him as an everyday shortstop regardless though.
Peralta seemed to get along really well in the Tigers clubhouse and Cleveland is a tough place to hit. But I would definitely prefer Jason Bartlett or even Jeter (hey, he’s from Michigan)
Jeter doesn’t even recognize Kalamazoo as his hometown though. He could take some advice from Greg Jennings, Jennings is constantly giving back to Kzoo.
I could live with Illitch spending $ 7 million on Peralta for a season, but if he turned back into that player that the Indians paid to go play in Detroit after two seasons of futility, I’d be upset to have him back for a second season, at ANY price. Everett was cheap enough, and folks rationalized having him because of the cost. He cost the Tigers games! THAT’s the cost! I don’t care what Illitch pays him. Just get us a real shortstop for a change!
I could live with Illitch spending $ 7 million on Peralta for a season, but if he turned back into that player that the Indians paid to go play in Detroit after two seasons of futility, I’d be upset to have him back for a second season, at ANY price. Everett was cheap enough, and folks rationalized having him because of the cost. He cost the Tigers games! THAT’s the cost! I don’t care what Illitch pays him. Just get us a real shortstop for a change!
Peralta is a solid vet, not outstanding in any one area, but the Tigers have many young up and coming guys that look to guys like Peralta, Inge and Cabrera for veteran leadership. Signing him for a couple of years is a good move, Tigers can compete with Twins/White Sox with Peralta as their shortstop.
“Tigers can compete with Twins/White Sox with Peralta as their shortstop.” I completely doubt that a full season of Peralta is what puts the tigers over-the-top.
Agreed. That pitching still needs fixing…..and you need somone good hitting behind Cabrera. Peralta won’t help the Tigers compete next year.
Now adding a Crawford or Victor as well….then maybe you can compete with the Twins.
Does anyone else see a pittsburgh pirate interest here? The team needs to upgrade over Ronny Cedeno and Peralta has ties to general manager Neal Huntington considering Huntington’s position with the Indians player development department. After a mediocre season it could be a chance for the Pirates to upgrade at a key position for less money than a Jack Wilson extension would have cost the team.
I honestly believe that as Huntingtons old crew of players from the Cleveland system begin hitting free agency there will be a distinct possibility of him reaching out to those whom he personally endorsed. The big question in this case: How highly does Neal think of Peralta?
This could actually be a fantastic fit.
Peralta is the only guy from the “huntington crew” that may go to Pittsburgh.
Everyone else from that time is gone already and guys like Lee and Victor won’t be going to Pittsburgh.
Plus, the role Huntington had with Cleveland after 2004 had virtually nothing to do with current players under contract. So would have had very little contact with Peralta. Neal was director of player development early in Peralta’s career though. But like I said, Peralta is really the only one from that far back that has a shot of going to Pittsburgh.
Possibly Andy Marte also.
I like the idea of Peralta for a 2 year, not based on the back of his baseball card and the declining numbers but for what he brought to the team. I watched every game, and I saw a guy who made every play in the field, got along good with teammates and got some clutch hits in big spots. Say what you will about his stats but this guy played hard for the Tigs and as many have pointed out, the SS market is mighty slim.
I can live with Peralta for one or two years. By 2012, maybe the SS market will have improved.
one year deal, and next year try to get Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins
I doubt he signs for a one-year. Truth is that he may be the brightest light in this shortstop market.