David Peralta

Position: OF
Bats/Throws: L/L
Age: 35 (8/14/1987)
2022 Traditional Stats: 134 G, 490 PA, .251/.316/.415/.731, 12 HR, 30 2B, 59 RBI, 110 H
2022 Advanced Stats: 109 OPS+, 104 wRC+, 0.7 bWAR, 1.7 fWAR, 8.4 BB%, 23.3 K%, .307 BABIP, .313 xwOBA, -5 DRS, 5 OAA

Rundown

David Peralta has been one of the most under-appreciated players in Major League Baseball for nearly a decade. In his career he has never been an All-Star and has played for Diamondbacks teams and a 2022 Rays team that can most aptly be described as underwhelming and disappointing. With just one Silver Slugger award and one Gold Glove award in nine years in the league you would think he hasn’t had a big impact, but that simply isn’t true.

Since he made his major league debut in 2014, Peralta has a career OPS just under .800 and in only one full season has he had an OPS+ below 100. He was mostly productive last year in his age-34 season, in which he posted a .731 OPS and a 109 OPS+. These numbers are negatively skewed due to a poor stint with the Rays, whom he joined at the trade deadline. Before this trade, Peralta enjoyed a productive half-season with the Diamondbacks where he put up a .777 OPS and a 118 OPS+.

Peralta’s numbers show that he has been a reliable contact hitter throughout his career, eclipsing a .285 batting average in five of his nine seasons. He has also flashed power at times, blasting a career-high 30 home runs in 2018 and in 2022 he hit at a rate of 22 home runs over a full 162 games before his trade to the Rays in July.

In 47 games with Tampa Bay, though, he failed to register any home runs and posted a less-than-ideal .652 OPS. Whether this struggle was due to a failure to acclimate to a new environment, age catching up to him, or another unknown factor is unclear.

What is clear is that Peralta’s performance has declined the past two seasons. His last two OPS totals of .731 and .728 are below his career OPS of .796 and he has only hit 20 home runs in his last 1000-plus plate appearances. Additionally, his batting average, on-base percentage, and walk-to-strikeout ratio in 2022 were all the lowest of his career over a full season. This late in his career, can he turn it around? Teams interested in his services will have to answer that question for themselves.

Contract

Spotrac.com believes Peralta has a market value of $8.3 million, which they estimate he will receive on a one-year deal. This valuation feels reasonable, though it’s possible he might not even make that much. A.J. Pollock signed a one-year, $7 million deal this offseason, and it can easily be argued he’s the better and more valuable player of the two. Because Peralta is turning 36 this August and has shown a decline in his performance, he may have to settle for a cheaper deal wherever he goes.

Recommendation

It’s no secret that the Mets are in need of, and are looking for, a fourth outfielder. Even with Andrew McCutchen now off the board, there are plenty of options out there that are on-par with, or better than, Peralta. Adam Duvall and Tommy Pham are names that have been linked to the Mets who might be better fits for the team. Duvall and Pham are also known for their prowess against southpaw pitchers, a skill that the Mets are desperate for that they wouldn’t receive with Peralta, a lefty himself.

The Mets should focus on the names listed above before they consider signing Peralta. They could certainly do worse if they land him as a fourth outfielder, but there are better fits for the team and what it is looking for at the moment.