Jhonny Peralta told John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press that he wants to return to Detroit next year. The Tigers could pick up Peralta’s $7MM option or buy him out for $250K and attempt to negotiate a cheaper deal.
"I want to be here," Peralta said. "I hope they pick up the option. But I want to be here. I like everybody here."
As Lowe points out, the Tigers “haven't gotten much production this year from their shortstops.” Adam Everett, Danny Worth, Ramon Santiago and Peralta have all spent time at short this season as the team has scrambled to find steady production. Peralta, who spent most of 2009-10 at third, posted negative UZR numbers at short every season from 2005-08.
Peralta’s .244/.310/.405 season line is unremarkable, but he’s producing at the plate in Detroit. Six of his 13 homers have come since joining the Tigers last month. He currently projects as a Type B free agent, so the Tigers could obtain a compensation pick in next year’s draft if they offer arbitration and Peralta turns it down to sign elsewhere.
Peralta’s teammate, Johnny Damon, has also expressed interest in returning to the Motor City next year. The Tigers have lots of money coming off the books and could be looking for solutions at short, third, catcher, in the outfield and in the rotation.
IHateJoeBuck
Both him and Damon know that Detroit is their only chance at getting as decent contract for next year.
NYY92
bring him back.
if he can revert back to his 09 form that would be great.
hes still relativley young at 28 and has been better then any shortstop you have had in a while.just dont pick up the option bring him back on a 4 mill guarenteed with another 2 in performance incentives
dc21892
Yeah. 7M is not reasonable with the money Detroit has to spend. They have plenty of money and it’s not worth using a chunk of it for that option. Decline it and offer something along the lines of the deal Scutaro got with Boston.
Hermie13
Problem with this though is he made more than $4M guaranteed this year……unless te Tigers don’t offer arbitration, he will have to get more than that even in guaranteed money.
IHateJoeBuck
He also has a $2M buy-out, so you’re still paying him $6M. If you bring him back, it shouldn’t be to play SS. He has horrible range.
gamaize
I believe his buy out considerably less than 2 million.
IHateJoeBuck
You’re right, my bad. I didn’t take the time to look it up. It’s a $250K buyout, which is significantly less.
airohpue13
The buyout money was also sent over from Cleveland in cash incentives as part of the trade. Tigers break even when they buy him out.
Hermie13
Incorrect as far as I know. The Tribe is paying the rest of his salary minus the the league min this year (so pro-rated $400K).
The Tigers are on the hook for the buyout though. That was hte only money Cleveland saved in the deal. Not my favorite deal (huge Jhonny P fan), but I do like Soto a lot (kid we got in return).
NYY92
right.i forgot and like stated below its 250k,but if he doesnt play short,who will play short for the tigers?i think they take the good with the bad and put his above average offense AT SHORT even if that means putting his below average D at short.idk maybe you bring him back on the option.
Hermie13
I don’t think I’d call a .748 OPS above average even at Short. Maybe I’d call that average….but in the AL, not even sure I’d do that.
Peralta is a great fit in Detroit…..money may be the issue. He’s definitely not worth $7M. But as said, there aren’t a ton of better options out there.
Hermie13
IMO, Tigers should decline the option and offer arbitration. Worst case he accepts…he’s not going to get $7M in arbitration. $6M tops. If he leaves, they get a comp pick then. Most likely he will accept since Detroit is letting him play SS.
The Big Clayboski
You don’t have a pest problem; you have a pest opportunity!
Ian_Smell
Click on it, I dare you.
Hermie13
One other thing to note…..while Jhonny is hitting HRs…..his OPS is still nothing special. It was .698 in Cleveland….it’s .748 in Detroit.
His batting average (bit irrelevant) is 10 pts lower and his OBP is only .002 higher. A .748 OPS is nothing overally special…..
gamaize
Real question is what are the options at SS for this off season?
The inhouse options are better with a glove but will they provide the O that Peralta may provide?
Keep in mind that Detroit has gone for the defense over the offense at several positions for the last few years and the offense has struggled, not talking of just 2010.
What are the other options via trade or FA? FA to be honest doesn’t look that good. Trades you may have S drew or perhaps the blockbuster that fell through was Hanley?
Main point is when considering Peralta’s future in Detroit you need to look at all options and judge where he fits within these.
my .01
DutchTiger
Don’t think there is much for SS on the market this off-season. I think they should keep him and let Inge go, because Peralta provides more flexibility position wise.
The question is should they accept the option and be sure of him staying, or should they decline and go for a lower contract, but with the danger of having to pay him the same or more if another team gets involved. It just depends on how much the Tigers want to keep them.
IHateJoeBuck
Bartlett will probably be made available by TB, given his under-performing year and cost when they have an in-house replacement ready (Brignac).
baseballdude
are there better ss in free agency??
Patrick OKennedy
I’d rather have Santiago and Worth.
tigers22
of course he wants that 7M option picked up… ill pass.
Henry Castellanos
Just because you and Johnny wanna come back doesen’t mean you will come back. Tigers have a great opportunity to get much better with alot of money coming off the books, and I’d say you guys are just in the way of the Tigers plan to build around Verlander and Miguel Cabrera
rottengazebo
Decline the option and offer him a 1 year, $3MIL deal. That’s the most he’s worth at this point. He isn’t very good defensively at SS, but if they can pull of signing Beltre to play third, this will drastically improve the infield defense.
Patrick OKennedy
Peralta is worse than Inge at the plate and worse than Renteria in the field. See ya, Jhonny.
TeamCropDusters
Of course you want to return to Detroit Peralta. They are the ONLY organization that thinks you are still capable of playing SS….