The Los Angeles Dodgers made a move to sign a former Silver Slugger outfielder as Spring Training nears.
The Dodgers signed former Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta on Friday. Peralta spent nine seasons with the D-Backs before they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays last season. Peralta entered free agency in the offseason and now, with Spring Training in the near future, the Dodgers picked him up.
Robert Murray of FanSided reported the news on Twitter.
“Free-agent outfielder David Peralta is in agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal,” Murray tweeted.
Free-agent outfielder David Peralta in agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) February 10, 2023
Peralta, 35, has slashed .281/.339/.457 in his career with an OPS+ of 111. He’s recorded 1,001 career hits and 110 career home runs.
In 2018, Peralta crushed 30 home runs with an .868 OPS to win the first and only Silver Slugger award in his career thus far. The following season, Peralta won his first Gold Glove award.
His bat has diminished a little in the past two seasons. In 2021, he played 150 games and hit just .259 with an OPS of .728. In 2022, he recorded a .251 batting average with a .731 OPS. Granted, those are still pretty solid numbers all things considered. But not nearly up to par with what he conjured up.
Los Angeles will hope he can contribute to the team immediately as they seek another World Series championship.
