For a second straight year, catcher Roberto Perez’s season is over before it had much of a chance to get underway. The Giants announced Thursday that Perez underwent surgery to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season. Perez, who played in just five games before sustaining the injury, was limited to 21 games with the Pirates in 2022 before a torn hamstring required season-ending surgery.
The injury to Perez was rather sudden, as a week ago he was still suiting up for the club. He exited their April 7 contest with what the team originally termed a shoulder strain, but further imaging revealed extensive enough damage that surgical intervention was required. He’d already been placed on the 60-day injured list, but the Giants hadn’t indicated until today that Perez’s entire season was even in jeopardy — let alone finished.
Signed to a minor league contract with a $2.5MM base salary back in early February, the 34-year-old Perez parlayed a decent spring showing (.261/.292/.391) into a spot on the Giants’ Opening Day roster. Long considered one of the premier defenders in the game at the catcher position, he appeared positioned for at least a backup role and — depending on Joey Bart and Rule 5 outfielder/catcher Blake Sabol fare — perhaps even a slightly larger role. Instead, he’ll spend the season on the Major League injured list.
The Giants didn’t do much to address their catching depth this offseason, with Perez and Sabol standing as their primary additions. They re-signed Austin Wynns to a non-roster deal and selected him to the big league roster when Perez hit the injured list, but he’s already since been designated for assignment. San Francisco did pick up Gary Sanchez on a minor league contract a week or so into the season, though he’s just 2-for-17 with seven strikeouts in 19 Triple-A plate appearances.
Sanchez could still factor into the Giants’ plans behind the dish, but at least for the time being, it’ll be Bart and Sabol splitting time behind the plate. Sanchez’s deal comes with a weighty (by minor league deal standards) $4MM base salary in the Majors and affords him the opportunity to opt out and re-enter the free-agent market on May 1 if he’s not been added to the big league roster by that point.
Phew, good thing we didn’t sign any injury-prone players this offseason, right Farhan?
… Right, Farhan?
Crickets
Beetle-grubs.
lol. Any excuse. Weak as piss.
2 million dollar gamble or 350 million dollar gamble – great comparison miss piggy.
… And Michael Conforto… and Mitch Haniger… and Luke Jackson…
#SupremeBacon
Spot on. Also, they need to let Joey Bart play. Stop batting him at the bottom of the lineup, put protection behind him, so he gets some pitches to hit. The strikeout issue is team wide, clearly a coaching issue, not a player issue.
he’s cooked, so sad
That poor guy. Great Indian and catcher. If anything else I hope he’s healthy for the future in life or anything else.
Wish I could make money like this guys last couple of years.
Wow. Wow! WOW!
Wow-HOW-how-HOW-how-WOW!
What a slacker.
35 next winter, had a decent run and got to play in a World Series but it seems like the end of the line is here
I’d say he’s probably done. Good career and he’s made his money. Time for him to move on to none baseball life.
He’s a catcher with a good defensive rep. He can play several more years if he wants.
Hit 2 homers in one of those World Series games, didn’t he?
Matt Thaiss will be a giant
Matt Stassi more likely than Thaiss. Give them a veteran presence. The Angels of course, would have to eat the majority of his contract though
Or even Max.
Gary Sanchez will be up in the near future to provide that veteran presence
And add to a roster already prone to strikeout.
Make that veterinarian presence.
He’s a dog.
They need to let Joey Bart play. Stop batting him at the bottom of the lineup, put protection behind him, so he gets some pitches to hit. The strikeout issue is team wide, clearly a coaching issue, not a player issue.
I think the problem is too many cooks in the kitchen. The Giants have (at least)three hitting coaches and who knows if they are on the same page with hitters from one coach to the next. Too many different voices in your ear giving you different approaches could be why the Giants either tee off on a pitcher or look absolutely dreadful
I agree with that. I’ve been thinking the same thing. More doesn’t always = better. Seems sometimes kinda like the Giants are employing more people than necessary, just to make a few friends wealthy.
Please retire. You’ve had a decent career. Injury prone and a catcher doesn’t mix.
Whereas injury prone and any other position is a good mix.
7.5MM to play 26 games in 2 years. Whole lotta rehab as well but I figure most would take that trade off
Most would take the minimum baseball wage but we aren’t good enough. However I don’t think Perez wanted the hamstring or shoulder pain or the lack of mobility or the potential chronic injury. I’m pretty sure he wanted to play 200 relatively pain free games over the last 2 years rather than the alternative
Was told when Bart was a prospect that pitchers liked his game calling and throwing to him. If this is still true they will be fine. People worry too much about the bat.
They need to let Joey Bart play. Stop batting him at the bottom of the lineup, put protection behind him, so he gets some pitches to hit. The strikeout issue is team wide, clearly a coaching issue, not a player issue.
Giants catching situation is dire. Bart is a bust on defense, offense, and game calling. All they have left is a Rule 5 draftee, Austin Wynns, and Gary Sanchez. Ouch!!
They also have Pat Bailey, who is looking much stronger this year than anyone expected
Barts game calling has never been cited as a weakness and his defense is about league average with potential to develop further. Those are just flatly wrong. However, he has always struck out around 30% so that is a HUGE concern. They could be worse off. Sabol has held his own and is improving all the time. They could get by with Bart and Sabol for a while.
They need to let Joey Bart play. Stop batting him at the bottom of the lineup, put protection behind him, so he gets some pitches to hit. The strikeout issue is team wide, clearly a coaching issue, not a player issue.
Bart’s batting better than any other Giants catcher this year. Did you see him throw out that runner yesterday? The pitching staff is better with him behind the plate too.
Some people are haters, just to hear themselves talk.
Shame. IN the short sample I’ve saw him play he was pretty decent.
Hope he makes it back.
Cardinals can trade you Andrew Knitzer
Don’t need him
Wow, looking at Perez’ career, there DEFINITELY was a juiced ball in 2019!
I honestly didn’t know be still played. Hopefully Russell Martin’s doppelganger can recover from this.
They need to let Joey Bart play. Stop batting him at the bottom of the lineup, put protection behind him, so he gets some pitches to hit. The strikeout issue is team wide, clearly a coaching issue, not a player issue.
To #FireFarhan:
YOU’RE FIRED !!