Dodgers to add veteran outfielder Peralta (sources)
LOS ANGELES — When trying on the Dodgers’ roster heading into Spring Training, the outfield — Mookie Betts apart — is likely one of the group’s greatest query marks.
On Friday, the Dodgers made a transfer that would repair a few of these points, agreeing to a one-year, $6.5 million cope with outfielder David Peralta, sources confirmed to MLB.com. The contract comes with incentives that would add as much as $2 million to Peralta’s contract.
The membership has not confirmed experiences of the deal, which is pending a bodily.
With Peralta within the fold, the Dodgers are anticipated to begin the season by platooning within the outfield, one thing they imagine will assist them maximize matchups. In that state of affairs, the lefty-hitting Peralta would begin in left discipline and get most of his at-bats in opposition to right-handers, whereas Trayce Thompson and Chris Taylor would proceed to deal with the tasks in opposition to left-handed pitching.
Adding Peralta, in addition to having non-roster invitees Jason Heyward and Bradley Zimmer within the combine, offers the Dodgers some insurance coverage within the outfield — which may permit extremely touted prospect James Outman to get totally comfy earlier than making his influence on the huge league stage.
Peralta has a profession .796 OPS and isn’t any stranger to the National League West, having spent the primary 8 1/2 years of his profession with the D-backs earlier than getting shipped to the Rays on the Trade Deadline final July. Peralta received a Silver Slugger Award again in 2018 after hitting a career-high 30 homers.
Last season, Peralta bought off to a powerful begin, posting a .777 OPS and 12 homers in 87 video games with the D-backs, however his manufacturing fell off with the Rays (.652 OPS, no homers in 47 video games).
Defensively, Peralta additionally offers the Dodgers a lift. The 35-year-old received a Gold Glove Award in 2019, and whereas he’s not the identical defender he as soon as was, Peralta did grade out extraordinarily effectively defensively in ’22. He completed with 5 outs above common, which was behind simply Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and Angels/Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh amongst left fielders.
