By Jordan Long
The Chicago Cubs are looking to improve their ball club. They missed the postseason last year by just 1 game. The Cubs hired Craig Counsell after David Ross failed to get the Cubs to the playoffs last year. Now they are building what they anticipate will be a playoff team. The Cubs are waiting for Cody Bellinger’s talks to heat up. They made a move, agreeing to a minor league contract with David Peralta.
Peralta has been in Major League Baseball for the past 10 years. He started his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, lasting from 2014 until he was traded on July 30th, 2022 to the Tampa Bay Rays. In Arizona he had a .283 batting average, smacking 110 home runs. Arizona earned a playoff spot once with Peralta, in 2017. They were swept in the National League Division Series by the L.A. Dodgers.
In 2022, Tampa Bay was in the thick of a playoff race and thought his offense could help the team earn a playoff spot. In 161 plate appearances for the Rays, Peralta’s batting average was .255. Peralta didn’t hit a home run but collected 18 RBIs. The Rays went to the playoffs as the third and final Wild-Card team in the American League. Tampa Bay was swept in the best of 3 by Cleveland. Peralta was used once and didn’t even get on base.
Last season he was with the Dodgers. The Dodgers placed him at left field for 118 games and right field for 12. At left field, he totaled 2 errors and 2 outfield assists. At right field, Peralta didn’t have an error with 1 outfield assist.
The Dodgers made the playoffs but were swept in the National League Division Series by Arizona. Peralta had one hit in the playoffs.
Once the last out was recorded in game 3, Peralta was a free agent. It took a while for him to sign a contract with another team. The Cubs agreed to a minor league contract with Peralta, meaning he has to earn his spot on the roster. Even if Peralta makes the cut, he will not be an everyday outfielder. The Cubs are stacked with Ian Happ in left field, Mike Tauchman placed in center field, and Seiya Suzuki in right. Peralta most likely be a veteran presence for the Cubs to help the young players and he may see some playing time if Happ or Suzuki needs a day off. The Cubs are taking a risk but at least it’s low risk. They can always release Peralta if it doesn’t work out.
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