The Phillies announced this morning that they’ve acquired outfielder Dustin Peterson from the Brewers in exchange for cash and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Peterson, 27, was the No. 50 overall draft pick by the Padres back in 2013 and was well-regarded enough a year later to be one of four players San Diego traded to Atlanta in exchange for then-star outfielder Justin Upton. Peterson, however, never put together a particularly lengthy run of success in the upper minors. He made a brief big league appearance with the Braves in 2018, going hitless in two plate appearances, before the rebuilding Tigers plucked him off waivers that September.
Detroit gave Peterson a bit more of a run in 2019, but he still received what could charitably be described as a cup of coffee in the Majors. Peterson logged 17 games and 47 plate appearances as a Tiger in 2019, hitting .227/.277/.318 with four doubles, a stolen base and a 14-to-2 K/BB ratio.
The 2021 season was perhaps Peterson’s most productive in Triple-A, as he spent the year with the Brewers’ top affiliate and posted a solid .271/.347/.416 batting line with nine home runs and 15 doubles in 329 trips to the plate. Encouragingly, the righty-swinging Peterson walked at a 9.1% clip that ranked as the best mark of his minor league career and struck out in just 13.4% of his plate appearances — far and away the lowest rate of his career. He’s only had 11 plate appearances in Triple-A so far this season but has continued those trends in that microscopic sample, walking four times against just one strikeout. In parts of five Triple-A campaigns, Peterson is a .268/.327/.394 hitter.
Originally drafted as a third baseman, Peterson moved to the outfield after just two minor league seasons and has been primarily a left fielder to this point in his professional career. His 3826 innings there are more than he has at every other position combined, though it’s worth pointing out that in addition to his third base experience back in 2013-14, Peterson has logged more than 1000 innings at first base and more than 400 in right field.
The addition of Peterson is likely more about minor league depth than it is near-term help for the MLB roster. The Phils lost both Odubel Herrera and Mickey Moniak to early injuries, and they also traded Adam Haseley to the White Sox late in Spring Training. That’s prompted them to bring Simon Muzziotti up to the big leagues and lean on Matt Vierling in center field. Peterson will join Roman Quinn, Justin Williams, John Andreoli and Jorge Bonifacio in the outfield mix with Lehigh Valley for the time being, though it’s possible that with a big showing in Triple-A, he could work his way up to the Majors at some point.
This marks the second time in as many weeks that Milwaukee has traded away a fairly productive depth option in exchange for cash. The Brewers traded infielder/outfielder Jamie Westbrook to Detroit in exchange for cash on April 13.
These kinds of deals are always strange to me. Why would they even bother? Are the Brewers that crunched for cash? And Philly has probably 3 or 4 guys ahead of him on the LF depth chart. I guess their AAA team must really suck.
You answered your own question. This is minors depth.
Phils really have no one younger but about on that level who’s around AA/AAA and plays corner OF? That’s hard to believe.
They apparently don’t have anyone better if they’re trading for a left fielder with a career AAA ops of .721.
There’s been quite a few injuries as well.
@seamaholic….just go ahead and check the aa / aaa rosters, I did when they called up Muzziotti…..
There really was no one other than him….and he was deemed not ready yet.
That’s why they brought back Quinn. Funny thing is that Kingery would have been the best option, but he’s not on the 40.
-signed
…sad but serious…..
Legend
Brewers getting low on baseballs and need some cash?
Maybe. Kind of like you being low on real content for commenting and regurgitate tired, predictable statements like above.
I thought it said Dustin Pedroia was traded for Mike Trout.
I guess when I see the phrase “fairly productive depth piece” I expect they’ve actually contributed something at the big league level..for the Brewers. I know I’m not the most knowledgeable when it comes to minor league players, but I don’t recall either of their names before these trades were announced.
milb.com/player/jimmy-kerrigan-677965
Is better and cheaper.
These like 2-3 league local guys available that are better if all they need is depth.
I was a huge Dustin Peterson fan when he was in the Braves system and though for sure he’d end up being a sorta surprise legit everyday starter for the Braves, filling in the 5th or 6th spot in the lineup long term. His minor league #’s were never that bad but he just couldn’t consistently put it together and/or show anything worth anything in the show. Hope he gets another shot
Can he play center? Can’t be worse than what Phillies have now
When did they re-sign Quinn?
About a week or so ago on a minors deal. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Odubel back in CF next week.
I watched the game last night and the hit by Bohm where he dived shoes why Joe has been using Camargo so much. He should not have dived. He stood a better chance just moving to his right. Too bad too because Alec looks like he figured out hitting again.
Wouldn’t let me edit my typo..”Shows” fingers just keep getting in the way..Oh well…..
Spent a few years in Boca Raton…I recall your handle from the (I think) Crashburn Alley site…
The halos have paid so many players so much money for how good they were for other teams they should get a team player award as a franchise.
Why trade Hasely if you are doing this deal?! Doesn’t make sense. At least Hasely was a former first round pick
At the moment, the Haseley deal was a headscratcher for sure. I believe, after last year (and whatever his personal issue was), Dombrowski did him a favour by sending him out as a “change of scenery” guy…..
But yeah, if ready Haseley would have been a solid piece…
For a moment I thought it said Dustin pedroia