Stop the presses – the Oakland A’s have actually signed a free agent! The team that has no money to speak of, that has claimed poverty to the point where they are unable to even consider entering the market, has finally done something.
Yes, the A’s have signed a free agent. Catcher Carlos Perez has returned on a minor league contract and will earn $650,000 if he cracks the major league roster.
A's sign Carlos Perez. 650K if in majors
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2021
At least the Oakland A’s did something
No, Perez is not an exciting signing. And he is really just a depth option. But at least the A’s did something, and considering how little action has occurred in Oakland this offseason, that has to count for something.
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Granted, Perez has not appeared in the majors since 2018. His career .215/.257/.319 batting line with 11 homers and 31 doubles over 670 plate appearances is not going to blow anyone away. However, he is a solid defensive backstop, with 13 runs saved and a 38% caught stealing rate in his 197 appearances behind the plate.
Perez does have a solid track record at AAA. Over his seven seasons spent at the highest level of the minors, he has posted a .297/.358/.431 batting line, hitting 22 homers and 63 doubles. It is possible that he could be a serviceable backup in the majors, considering his decent pop and excellent defense, but he is not likely to get much of a chance in Oakland.
That could obviously change. The A’s do have plenty of holes on the roster and a plethora of young catchers. While Sean Murphy is not going to be traded, Jonah Heim or Austin Allen may have value on the market. If nothing else, Perez is solid depth at AAA in the event of injury or a trade.
The Oakland A’s have signed a free agent. Carlos Perez may not be exciting, but he does fill a need as a depth option behind the plate.