Longtime Royals catcher Salvador Perez looks to have been an under-the-radar trade candidate heading into the deadline, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeted that the Marlins and White Sox each had interest, and the Padres also “checked on” the backstop, as per the Post’s Jon Heyman. The Marlins might have been relatively closest to making something happen, as The Athletic’s Jayson Stark reports that Perez was “open to” playing in Florida (where he lives), and Miami and K.C. revisited talks this afternoon but a deal didn’t emerge.
On paper, it isn’t surprising that a non-contender like the Royals looking into moving a high-salaried veteran player. However, the fact that Perez was discussed to even some extent counts as a bit of a surprise, given his longstanding status as the face of the Royals franchise. In mid-June, Kansas City general manager J.J. Picollo flatly denied the possibility of such a move, saying the Royals didn’t “have any intention of trading Salvy and it’s not something we are looking to do,” and that “he has told us over and over again he wants to be a Royal his whole career.”
Perez is a 10-and-5 player, meaning that he achieved full no-trade protection by achieving 10 years of MLB service time and five years with the same team. He could’ve therefore vetoed any proposal, but it creates an interesting question of what scenario arose first — Perez telling the Royals he was open to being dealt in the right scenario, or the Royals approaching Perez with any offers received.
Of course, the extent of the talks with any of these three clubs isn’t known, as even the negotiations with the Marlins might’ve been little more than due diligence. Miami and San Diego both known to be looking for catching upgrades, and given the thin market for quality backstops, it makes sense that each team would at least place a call to Kansas City, even if the chances of a Perez trade might have been remote.
The White Sox are a more surprising suitor, and it seems unlikely that Perez might have agreed to join another AL Central team. According to Sherman, Sox manager Pedro Grifol might’ve been a factor in trying to bring his old friend to town, as Grifol spent a decade on the K.C. coaching staff before being hired by Chicago. The White Sox saw Perez as a replacement for Yasmani Grandal, who is a free agent after the season and was surely a trade candidate in his own right as the Sox looked to rebuild, though Grandal was one of the few pending White Sox free agents who wasn’t moved at the deadline.
If Perez and the Royals are perhaps considering parting ways, it adds an interesting wrinkle to the offseason trade market. Given how badly the Royals have stumbled this season, Perez might feel that the team won’t be able to contend again before his contract is up, so he might be more open to joining a contender for the latter stages of his career. From the Royals’ perspective, losing the 33-year-old Perez would represent the end of an era in K.C. baseball, but it might be a decision the team is ready to make if it has to reboot what looks like a stalled rebuild plan.
Perez is still owed at least $44MM through the 2025 season ($42MM in salary and a $2MM buyout of a $13.5MM club option for 2026), so he would be a pricey addition for any team. There is also the fact that Perez is having a down year, hitting .246/.288/.427 with 17 homers (and 89 wRC+) over 396 plate appearances and posting subpar defensive numbers according to both Statcast and Fangraphs’ metrics. It could be that Perez might be recharged with a change of scenery, or he might simply be starting to wear down after 12 MLB seasons.
2/$44 million and you know KC will never cover salary.
Those conversations were very short.
Also, why does MLBTR skip discussing defensive stats for players whose defense has fallen off bad? He’s not doing an off-season chat, so be balanced.
They did mention defense, you weirdo.
Perez has 2 more years after this and I’d be shocked if he didn’t retire a lifetime Royal. He’ll be 35 then, one year older than his contemporary Buster Posey was when he retired in 2021 as still the best hitting catcher in the NL (best in MLB was Salvy, with 48 HR)
That 48HR season was bonkers
He probably drank a lot of V-8 that year
Royals are probably best to let Salvy play out his last few years there and at least have someone the fans can cheer for. They aren’t going to get much of a return for him via trade.
He’s basically Rod Barajas at this point. No offence to Rod.
None taken.
This highlights the possibility of Salvy moving to DH and having a great second career. I hope he stays a Royal and has a couple more big ding dong years. 48 again? Probably not. But 30 ding dongs and a .800 plus OPS? Sure.
Still blown away thinking they would trade him in division. Insane. Don’t do my man like that he has done too much for KC to go in division rival
The Royals fans deserve a franchise icon to hold onto they haven’t had one with this longevity in years. If he goes that team will only see him as what he is(still a good hitting catcher) vs what they traded/paid for him. If he’s a Royal he’s done enough to earn respect for the life of his career. They wouldn’t get a franchise altering package like they would have if they’d traded him years ago I’d say time to stay the course
Alex Gordon?
Salvy will ok a trade to Miami. JJ just needs work the right package in the offseason and pull the trigger.
The Royals are too far away from their World Series years. It makes sense that they would move any veteran and cut any salary if they could. I just wonder if they were gun shy knowing the fans would be upset if they moved Perez and didn’t have something of value to show for it.
No
Please don’t. You just don’t do this. I’m still kinda pissed the Phillies traded Rollins even though it got them Eflin. Salvy needs to be forever Royal.
On a side note, how much additional WAR do you thick Salvy needs to accumulate to make it to the HOF? 8X AS, WS Winner and WS MVP (in KC!), 4X Silver Slugger, and 5X Gold Glove.
He might have an outside chance at 2,000 hits if he can extend his career beyond the next two guaranteed contract years and he’ll hit 250 homers possibly eclipse 300 when all is said and done. I’d say he’s closer than a lot of people may realize to getting in.
He’s in. WAR is not a factor for the Hall of Fame. Look where Salvy compares to other historically great catchers. He’s a Hall of Famer. So is Posey.
Salvador Perez is NOT a Hall of Famer.
Yeah, having a resume that so far includes 8 All Star Games; 5 Gold Gloves; 4 Silver Sluggers; well on his way to finishing top 10 in HRs by a Catcher; a legit chance to become the 16th catcher with 1000 RBI; and his many other accolades, just wreaks of a guy that’s absolutely not (capital letters for strong emphasis) a Hall of Famer.
One would’ve thought the Royals FO would’ve learned from the Merrifield fiasco, where they held onto an asset until he went from 1-2 top-100 prospects to basically nothing.
I like Salvy well enough, but he has no value any more.
The Royals suk. Year in and year out.
Where the hell were the Rangers on this? Instead we get Austin hedges? Even if Perez has fallen off he’s a million times better than hedges
Wait, is Salvador Perez really a draw? Are there legitimately people who say “Eh, I’d rather go to concert tonight, oh wait, Salvador Perez is still playing, nevermind, it’s a Royals night!”
Surely Kansas City isn’t That boring of a city
Thankfully its one trade that the Sox didn’t make. I would not be doing any favors for Grifol, especially trading younger players for a guy likely to be retired in a few years (already saw Hahn do that with Dunning for Lynn)
1. He to stop trying to hit every pitch 500 Ft.
2. He needs to be more selective at the plate (the one at the stadium and the dinner table)
If you threw a tantrum Salvy would swing at it.
Classy comment.
Royals are the saddest they’ve been in over a quarter century. Oakland can have this team too, as long as KC gets another expansion team to replace them. Salvy being in trade talks at all makes them even more depressing. They should trade Witt Jr and get a greinke level return and start new. Witt Jr isn’t ever going to win in kc and salvy is their only hope of a lifetime royal in the near future. Witt Jr isn’t going to sign with this dumpster fire of a team even if they throw an entire bank at him.
The Royals need to fold up shop , they’ll never contend again…….haha, and they want a new ballpark…what a joke, it’s over here in KC, at least we have the Chiefs
It’s likely that the Marlins and Royals revisit trade discussions in the offseason. It would’ve been too much for the Marlins to try to get him iin-season. In the offseason, you can make other trades and/or sign free agents to fill the voids caused from trading pieces for a player that would require a package.
Salvy is an icon and as solid as they came, He reminds of an old school player who has played through pain when he has too. I hope he retires as a Royal.