Detroit Tigers Reportedly Set to Sign Outfielder Juan Perez to Minors Deal
Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila has reportedly added more depth to the organization. According to the latest report, outfielder Juan Perez is set to sig a minors deal.
Detroit Tigers fans haven’t seen many minor league free agents make impacts with the team in recent seasons.
Just last year, Detroit’s notable minor league free agents, Casey McGehee, Bobby Parnell, Logan Kensing and Dustin Molleken, didn’t exactly light the world on fire.
While minor league signings generally don’t provide significant impacts, they can often provide value as a bench bat or an extra relief arm.
If anything, minor league free agent signings give teams more depth to potentially rely on over the course of a season.
Outfielder Juan Perez is reportedly set to join the organization.
Emily Waldon of 2080 Baseball tweeted, “Source: #Tigers to sign #Cubs FA OF Juan Perez to Minor League deal with invitation to Spring Training. #MiLB.”
The Detroit News’ Chris McCosky later tweeted, “Confirming @emilywaldon2080 report. Tigers in process of signing former Cubs OF Juan Perez. Deal isn’t done. Likely to get spring invite.”
Perez
Perez has played 117 games in the Majors. Those contests came over parts of three seasons with the San Francisco Giants from 2013 to 2015.
All told, the 30-year-old is a .224 career hitter at the Major League level, with 26 runs scored, 15 doubles, 13 RBI, three stolen bases and a pair of home runs.
He posted a career-best .282 batting average in 22 games with the Giants in 2015.
The outfielder saw action in each round of San Francisco’s championship run in 2014, including appearing in six World Series games.
Last season Perez saw action in 117 games for the Chicago Cubs Triple-A affiliate. In 412 plate appearances at the minors’ highest level, the former 13th-round pick batted .276 with a .310 on=base percentage.
Mar 20, 2016; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Juan Perez (5) hits a pitch during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The outfielder also added 57 RBI, 53 runs scored, 16 stolen bases and nine home runs. He finished with a .168 ISO, a .328 wOBA and a 96 wRC+.
Potential Role
Able to play all three outfield spots, Perez’ easiest path to the Majors may come in center field.
With J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton entrenched in the corners for the time being, the former Giant could find more success battling for playing time in center with the likes of JaCoby Jones, Anthony Gose and Tyler Collins.
Even if Perez can’t crack the Major League roster on Opening Day, he should provide solid depth. As it stands, the Detroit Tigers don’t have too much depth behind Martinez and Upton.
Jones shows promise, but may not be ready to start full-time. Elsewhere, the likes of Gose, Collins and Steven Moya have been inconsistent in their respective Major League careers.
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