“Everyone destroyed that deal,” a rival executive tells The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal about the general opinion of the Royals’ four-year, $82MM contract extension with Salvador Perez last March. Though that extension doesn’t kick in until next season, it is now looking like a shrewd move in the wake of Perez’s huge 2021 numbers. Perez entered today’s action with 42 homers, a .276/.316/.548 slash line, and a league-best 104 RBIs over 569 plate appearances. While Perez had shown some big power in the past and delivered a .986 OPS during 156 PA in the abbreviated 2020 season, nobody saw this type of slugging breakout coming in the veteran catcher’s age-31 campaign.
What looked like an overpay in March now looks pretty close to what the market value would’ve been for Perez as a free agent this winter, as 2021 was the final year of Perez’s previous deal (a five-year, $52.5MM pact) with Kansas City. Given Perez’s importance to the Royals organization, the team might have been willing to engage in some form of a bidding war to retain Perez in free agency, though that is a scenario the Royals are undoubtedly pleased to have avoided.
More from around the division…
- White Sox slugger Eloy Jimenez has missed his team’s last two games due to a bone bruise on his right knee. The injury is “significant,” manager Tony La Russa told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and other reporters, though there is some hope Jimenez can return to the lineup in relatively short order. While sitting in the dugout on Tuesday, Jimenez suffered the injury after being hit by a line drive of an Andrew Vaughn foul ball, and eventually had to leave the game. The increasingly banged-up White Sox are missing a few key players on the injured list already, though Chicago has plenty of cushion atop the all-but-decided AL Central.
- The Twins placed right-hander Randy Dobnak on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to September 8) due to a strain in his right middle finger. Left-hander Andrew Albers was called up from Triple-A to take over Dobnak’s scheduled start in today’s game against the Indians. Dobnak already missed over two months of the season with another strain involving the same finger, and given both the late date on the calendar and the apparent recurring nature of the injury, it is possible that Dobnak might not pitch again in 2021. It’s been a tough season for the righty, who pitched so well in his 2020 rookie season that Minnesota inked Dobnak to a five-year extension worth at least $9.25MM in guaranteed money. Working as both a starter and a reliever this year, Dobnak struggled in both roles, en route to a 7.64 ERA over 50 2/3 innings, with 11 home runs allowed.
Nobody who knows anything about Salvy and what he means to this team and this town panned that deal. And any amount of an overpay is just leveling the field for how criminal UNDERpaid he has been. Salvy is the beating heart of this team.
People who live in the world of ANALytics don’t understand what a player like Perez has meant to his team. The same goes for Molina in St. Louis. It’s not just the numbers. I am very happy to see Perez having a fantastic season.
People in the world of analytics know that Perez has one of the hardest hit %, highest exit velocity, etc. He is an analytic darling. Perhaps it was the lamestream media that was critical of his deal.
The analysts love Yadi too… *framing*
Give this man a Pulitzer Prize for that brilliant op-Ed zinging the VORPies and nerds… *eyeroll*
Even if it’s a small overpay at the end of the contract, he will likely retire a Royal and wear a KC hat in the HOF. That’s alone makes it worth it. How many Royals are in the HOF? (Wearing the kc hat?). Brett? I’m glad to see him stay with you guys.
When did Perez become a likely HOFer?
The day he was born
If Salvy retires today, he’s a first ballot Royals HOF, retire his number and erect a statue in the CF concourse, but I think he’s not quite to Cooperstown. If he’s still a productive regular at the end of this contract, I think he gets into Cooperstown. 10+ years as an every day catcher, working on gold glove #6 and about to set the major league record for home runs by a catcher.
Hahahahahaha
Everyone is a hall of famer!
YO IMMA LET YOU FINISH… but Tom Brady is still the GOAT! Sorry, Cowboys fans. Dak better than Brady? LMAOOOOOOOOOOO
???
I like the heart of this team point. As a stats guy I still think there is value in the veteran player and there is some effect they have on teams. Call it the Brady or Betts effect. Something about these guys makes others better, if only there was a way to quantify it…
Rumor has it Dobnak injured his middle finger while driving Uber flipping off another motorist
Salvy’s current season is better than any of Yadier’s. If yadi gets in, perez is making his case to eventually get in as well!
Does anyone remember the first deal Perez signed with the Royals? It was awful for him and they ended up re-writing it. This deal kinda makes up for that one and he deserves it.
Stick a fork in the 2021 Chicago White Sox. They are done.
Why?
1. No consistency to speak of anywhere in the lineup.
2. They lack mental toughness. They don’t pull out close games. They are TOO relaxed.
3. As a team, they don’t play good baseball. They’re a division leader in the AL Central. They’re a .500 team in a decent division right now.
Even before half the regulars took a sabbatical to “get healthy” (essentially coast through the regular season due to the double digit division lead), they play sloppy and uninspired.
Teams in the past who have done what the Sox are doing right now typically fall flat on their face and given a quick hook early in postseason play. It’s not a light switch, fellas.
Okey dokey fella.
It’s Randy Quaid from Major League 2
The ChiSox aren’t doing the little things and are losing by them now.
Sox have been playing their “B” team.
@ChiSoxCity, I agree they’re not playing that well, but disagree that they’re done. The bullpen has been a train wreck since the trade deadline, but Hendriks and a couple other guys are pulling out of that funk. Their rotation has had some injuries of late. Keuchel is a disaster out there, but (I sincerely hope) he won’t be a playoff starter.
And you’re right, they’re inconsistent and sometimes play uninspired baseball. But then they also have games like the Field of Dreams game. When the lights were the brightest, this team performed at a high level (bullpen meltdown aside). They’ve had series where they took 2 of 3 from the Rays and Astros. They can win against other good teams. It’s just a matter of whether they can get healthy in time and hot during the playoffs.
The 2005 White Sox were a good team, but turned it up another notch in the playoffs. That rotation was never nearly so good as it was in October.
The 2005 White Sox were the best team in the league for about 85% of the regular season, and only lost ONE game in the playoffs.
This current iteration is no where close to as consistent or dominate as that WS team in ‘05.
I hate saying this about my boys, because I absolutely love this team/roster. From my experience, teams like the White Sox are usually dogmeat come playoff time… way too many guys underperforming, way too lackadaisical in the dugout.
Lol what is with the obsession you weirdos have of trying to decide what will happen before the games are played?
They’re going to make the playoffs, and hopefully they go on a deep playoff run. But nothing is going to be handed to them, and that’s the point.
@Calcetines
Excellent point. I mean I’m not naive enough to favor them vs the Astros especially if they don’t have home field, but if they get people healthy they have a chance. You can’t write any team sure to make the playoffs off now. It’s not like watching a mediocre Bears team sneak into the playoffs and you literally know the outcome basically. Baseball is weird, the best team doesn’t always win out anyway.
When was the last time the best team didn’t win in baseball? There are no surprises anymore. As with all professional sports these days.
Tell that to the BoSox after ChiSox win last night!
One by one the Sox regulars return from the IL. They look well rested and excel!
Can’t wait to see TA#7 play again!
Andrew Vaughn reminds me of John Boles; both are very suspicious looking with the wide eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if they participated in cults outside of baseball.
Nice fact-free rant.
you must be fun at parties
I wonder if the year Salvador was out rejuvenated his legs …
I know he’s played a bit of DH but missing only 1 game might be the most impressive thing he’s done this year.
Regardless if the A’s get a new stadium or city or whatever, there’s no reason to not get with the times and put a little money towards some minor safety upgrades. They should have a railing in front of the dugout like other ballparks. It’s not a guarantee that no one will get hit but it cuts down on that risk and can’t cost that much.
The salvy extension made some sense since it was out of loyalty. What I didn’t understand, and still don’t understand, is why they extended Hunter Dozier.
not to be that guy, but can we judge how good Salvy’s extention is if he hasnt even played a game during it yet?
We do this all the time with prospects. I mean, Jasson Dominguez has gotten compared to inner circle HOFers before he even played a single game in the US. That’s much more ridiculous than saying Salvy’s extension looks like a win before it starts.
Sox need to put an armor suit on Jimenez. Who misses an entire season only to get hurt in the dugout. He’s an accident waiting to happen. Their defense is awful! Pass balls, wild pitches, Tony knows it will hurt them, his Cards beat the Tigers in 06! Nine errors in a short and awful World Series for the Tigers.