The Diamondbacks are in last place in the NL West, and already seem to be one of the teams who are looking ahead to 2022. To this end, “David Peralta is among the players the Diamondbacks have already made available,” FanSided’s Robert Murray hears from rival executives.
Peralta has been mentioned in past trade rumors over the years as the D’Backs have fluctuated between building and rebuilding, though the outfielder is now in the midst of his eighth season with Arizona. Unfortunately for the Snakes, moving Peralta (who turns 34 in August) right now could count as a sell-low proposition given his underwhelming start to the season.
Peralta is hitting only .245/.302/.409 over 225 plate appearances, and all three of those slash line statistics would represent new career lows. There aren’t many positives on Peralta’s 2021 Statcast profile, and his .278 xwOBA (compared to a .305 wOBA) suggests that he is perhaps even a bit fortunate to have achieved this modest level of production. According to Fangraphs, Peralta is making hard contact only 28.4% of the time (the lowest of his career) and his 55.6% grounder rate is the highest of his career. Never very productive against southpaws, the left-handed hitting Peralta has batted only .251/.311/.406 against right-handed pitching this season.
Even defensively, Peralta has a -6.4 UZR/150 and -3 Defensive Runs Saved over 452 innings in left field. His glovework has tended to be a little inconsistent through the years, but at his peak Peralta has been a very strong defender, even winning a Gold Glove in 2019.
Despite all these warning signs, there is still a case to made that Peralta represents an upgrade for any number of contending teams. Peralta was a solidly above-average offensive player over his first seven seasons, and a change of scenery could very well get him back on track. Contract-wise, Peralta is owed $7.5MM in 2022 and has roughly $4.76MM remaining on his 2021 salary, so he wouldn’t be too expensive an option for low-payroll club or a bigger-market team looking to stay under the luxury tax threshold.
Speculatively, teams like the Padres, Yankees, Braves, and (as Murray mentions) the Cardinals could all make sense as trade suitors for Peralta. The White Sox could also be a fit with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert still out of action, and since those two outfielders aren’t expected back for at least a couple more months, Chicago could be one of the teams that would benefit from the D’Backs taking an early plunge into the trade market.
Peralta has 1 hit over his last 18 at bats. Pass.
With such a huge sample size they should just cut him because no one will want him…
What do you suggest? Maybe a Teixeira or Wainwright type trade all over again? This team needs more than a bat. It needs a superstar bat and superstar relief pitcher at the minimum. I guess this is probably Freddie’s last year as a Brave let go all in!
Come on, that wasn’t TChops point. All he said was that 18 AB’s isn’t enough of a valuation. You could have looked back further in Peralta’s batting logs and have made a better point but you went with 18 AB’s. Just wasn’t a good initial argument. You are entirely correct that Peralta is not what the Braves need but your argument doesn’t demonstrate that very well.
Can he play centerfield? Some dork needs to calculate what his sabermetrics and algorithms would be in centerfield to see if it’s worth the Yankees acquiring him.
I somewhat like the fit for the Cardinals. Left bat with a track record who plays the outfield is a need. Playing Carlson in center isn’t ideal but Bader has been hurt twice already and the DH is probably coming to the NL in 2022, which Peralta is signed for. I have thought about him plenty we could do worse.
Bader will be back soon, and Peralta would be a pretty expensive (in both prospects and salary) bench player.
As for the DH next year, the Cardinals could find much better options in this offseason’s free agent market. It would actually be pretty difficult to do worse than Peralta there save for not signing anyone at all.
He’s not that good. I don’t think he would cost much in prospects or salary I think AZ would pay some of it. Teams are not lining up to get Peralta whatsoever just a salary dump, however much they can dump.
Platoon with Bader and fill in when he’s injured and/or not producing. Then spell the others. They need a reliable veteran 4th outfielder who is prepared to play out there almost every day. He bats well against righties still which this team also needs.
Peralta with Cardinals would make a lot of sense and he can be gotten pretty cheap. He’s a lot more consistent than what they have in the outfield or bench at the moment. He can help them immediately.
He’s 33 years old, turning 34 around the deadline
The downward trend in stats is almost certainly real and because of the age
I would have to imagine Arizona would need to pick up salary and not expect much of anything in return
Yeah I don’t like him for what he’s making that’s for sure. But they are most likely better off letting their young guys play. Cards used to have good young outfielders ready to play but those guys play for other teams now. I can see a deal being made here. Mo calls the AZ GM picks up the phone I know that…
Peralta is another former Cardinal outfielder that got away. They signed him and then cut him a long time ago. Not sure StL wants him back now, but he did well for Arizona.
If you ask Colby Rasmus Dad he’d prolly tell you his son could play all 3 OF positions at once still
Except for, you know, Bader, Carlson, and O’Neill, the latter of whom has really surprised me at how much he’s improved this year. At this point, Peralta is a scrub compared to those 3 guys.
ONeills a stud but you still need 4 outfielders. How much playing time have the backups had so far? Thata the problem Thomas and Williams have been terrible. And the DH is coming in 2022 to the NL so he’s a good fit when that happens.
Peralta as #3 or #4 Outfielder and ‘Bench guy’… would be an outstanding pickup for Cardinals and would be cheap to get.
Hey………he’s upright and has a pulse, go get him Mets
Brian Cashman: “He’s turning 34 and his stats are trending downward…..HE’S PERFECT.”
If the Dbacks would be willing to eat some money Peralta would be a fit for the Yankees who desperately need a left handed hitter. Though it remains to be seen if the Dbacks, or any other team for that matter would eat some money to facilitate a deal like this
If only Peralta could hit….
He’s having a down year for sure but Yankee Stadium is a haven for lefties and he would probably platoon with either Frazier or Andujar
Cardinals for sure
Pwralta in his
Peralta in his career has killed RHP, a platoon would work best for him. He would be a fit in Philly since McCutchen has struggling with RHP
Hoping Ketel Marte is made available. Phillies could use him in CF. Productive player with an affordable contract. Not sure the Phillies have the trade capital though – or maybe just can’t sacrifice their trade capital because they don’t have have much depth in the system.
I was thinking this. I’m sure the conversation doesn’t get started without Mick Abel though.
If Mike Hazen was willing to part with Marte (he and Gallen might be the only “untouchables” on the D-Backs roster), the price in prospects would be high. If the Phillies really want him, it might require a three-team deal.
It does start with Abel but azm might be right. It would be difficult for Philadelphia to do it by themselves. Perhaps they could offer Abel, as well as Spencer Howard and Alex Bohm as recent previous high ranking prospects. Bohm and Howard should still retain much of their prospect value. Bohm has had success at the majors recently though not presently and Howard has not yet had 40 IP in the majors so that short sample is something just to the left of worthless.
I don’t know that this would be a good idea for the Phillies. Do this and you are all but finishing off the rebuild that was supposed to provide consistent success for years to come but then if that is a a forgone conclusion than maybe it IS time to push your chips all in. This MIGHT get you one of them.
The problem with the Phillies is that they started pushing the chips in too early. The team wasn’t good. Didn’t have a talented young core to build upon when they decided to “go stupid” in free agency and trades.
So, you have what you have now. A pretty expensive roster with clear holes. Don’t know how you patch it up at this point.
“A pretty expensive roster with clear holes.” For a second, I thought you were talking about the Angels.
I actually think Odubel Herrera has done a good job taking over the lead off spot and playing CF. Herrera has brought a little spark at the top of the lineup. The only problem is I don’t know what his future brings after this season, if they can get Ketel Marte to play CF past 2021 in Philadelphia then yeah I’d look into a possible move but I think the Phillies 1st need is another starting pitcher before deadline. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if they throw there name into Trevor Story sweepstakes. John Midddelton is gonna have to go over that luxury tax to make this team better and will see if that happens.
Braves? Marlins? Red Sox?
Why Red Sox?
Marte is the gem and worth the fortune he will cost in prospects. He’d look good hitting in that 2 spot for Tampa !
He’s the perfect fit for an aging Yankee team
“Aging”… this isn’t 2015
Huh? The Yankees aren’t aging at all, except in the sense that we all are.
This would be nothing more than a classic salary dump for Arizona if he gets traded. He’ll bring back a couple of low level prospects at best. The only way that changes is if Arizona is willing to pay most of his salary. In that case, they could actually get a decent prospect back in return. This scenario would work well for the Yankees, but it sure seems like Arizona is more interested in salary relief than anything else at this point in time.
White Sox on line 1
No way
Peralta’s stats and salary make him non-tradeable unless there are prospects attached.
$7.5M this year and next for a below replacement level player? I could see a team like Texas or Detroit take him on if you attach a nice prospect with him.
Team like Texas and Detroit doesn’t need to gamble on the upside he provides. I like the concept but for a team like the Cardinals more than those teams you mentioned.
TEX and DET are two of the four teams in full rebuild mode. A mid season trade for a 34 year old, unless its a multi-team trade for different players or a contract swap, just won’t fit.
David Peralta for a Tarek Skubel type or Miguel Cabrera just won’t happen.
They’re not going to get much for peralta at this point. But at the same point with the issues the Braves have with Ozuna, it might not hurt to trade a lower level prospect for him. NL East is so closely bunched that no team is really out of it. The division is still the Braves to lose but they got work to do. Any pitchers available lol!
Does this guy still play CF? I don’t see a fit with the Sox but I especially don’t see a fit if he’s only a corner OF.
He’d have more value if he were only signed through 2021
Why would anyone want Peralta? He is over the hill and a 0 WAR guy at this point
Something Atlanta might do, send Dbacks a young arm or two .
no thanks
Are they trading him or a signed Topps card?
“Peralta is hitting only .245/.302/.409 over 225 plate appearances, and all three of those slash line statistics would represent new career lows”
Thanks to the current offensive woes, thats probably about league average
A 92 wRC+ so just below average.
Nah, the Yankees will likely pass on Peralta. But will likely have interest in Joey Gallo and Ketel Marte on or by the trade deadline.
Pretty sure the Mets could use him
Peralta, Escobar, Cabrera, Ahmed, Madbum … take whatever you can get. Gallen + Marte listen to offers and accept nothing but a massive, massive overpay — nobody will meet the price. Lastly jettison Ken Kendrick.
I would rather have G.Polonco than D.Peralta. Polonco atleast has acouple 20 plus HR, and 80 plus RBI seasons. He strikes out a lot and isn’t gonna steal 15 plus bases a season anymore. But he’s hitting .216 with 5HR and 5SB this year. And has a team option for next year. 7.5M next year or a 2M buyout. If he plays well with a different team and a change of scenery, the team can pick up his contract for 1 more season. And he’s still just 29 years old(Turns 30 in September). And he not gonna cost much as far as prospects.
Huge fail by the Dbacks vaunted front office here. They could have traded Peralta for a big package last off-season, had they not been enthralled by the strange idea that they actually were really good and 2020 was a fluke..
Why would the Cardinals want Peralta when (once Bader returns) they already have 3 outfielders who are significantly outperforming him and should probably do so again next year?
Well, they could certainly use him as a bench bat, but that’s a pretty expensive bench player, plus it might be difficult for Peralta to accept such a demotion.
Queens please
I mean the Red Sox are listening to trade offers on Franchy Cordero too… but like Peralta isn’t really hitting enough to offer many teams a boost offensively… joking aside I do realize Peralta comes with a much better track record. But given his age, I do think he needs to show a little bit more before the Diamondbacks can really expect to get anything of value for him in return in any potential trade scenario.