With Joey Bart and Austin Wynns left as the one gamers within the Giants group who had caught a recreation within the main leagues, and simply Bart left on the 40-man roster, addressing the depth behind the plate was one of many final gadgets left on Farhan Zaidi’s offseason to-do record.
San Francisco reportedly checked that field Sunday afternoon, agreeing to phrases with 34-year-old catcher Roberto Perez, in accordance with Chris Cotillo, the Crimson Sox beat reporter for MassLive.com. He had first reported that Boston was in talks with the veteran backstop. The membership has but to announce the transfer.
The phrases of the settlement haven't but been reported. Earlier this month, Zaidi stated it was “unlikely” the Giants would add one other catcher on a major-league deal, although Cotillo reported that Boston made an “aggressive” push. Perez signed a $5 million contract with the Pirates earlier than final season however underwent season-ending surgical procedure on his hamstring in Could.
Earlier than well being troubles the previous two seasons (a fractured finger and a strained shoulder additionally value him time in 2021), Perez was thought-about one of many prime defensive catchers in baseball. He was a back-to-back winner of the Gold Glove and the extra analytically inclined Fielding Bible awards in 2019 and 2020.
In his finest season, with Cleveland in 2019, he hit .239 with 24 house runs in 389 at-bats. Nevertheless, he has principally been unable to duplicate that offensive success, with 4 seasons of sub-.200 batting averages and a profession batting line of .207/.298/.360 (a .658 OPS) in 9 MLB seasons.
Chosen by Cleveland thirty third general within the 2008 novice draft, Perez spent his total skilled profession in the identical group earlier than signing with the Pirates final season. He now joins a San Francisco catching group that features Bart, Wynns and Blake Sabol competing for 2 or three spots on the 26-man Opening Day roster.
Whereas Wynns served as Bart’s main backup after San Francisco dealt Curt Casali to Seattle on the commerce deadline, he was designated for project earlier this offseason to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Casali, a clubhouse favourite who spent 2021 and the primary half of ’22 with the Giants, was a free agent however opted to return to Cincinnati. Wynns accepted his outright project and can compete for a job within the spring.
Sabol, 25, was acquired from the Reds within the Rule 5 draft and should spent all the season on the lively roster or be provided again. Nevertheless, the Giants are unlikely to enter the season with him as Bart’s solely backup; he has performed 25 video games above Double-A, and evaluators aren’t bought on his glove.