Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Only one thing we know for sure. Mookie Betts is going to be the right fielder for your Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. After that, things are in flux. And, manager Dave Roberts will have any number of options that he could call on to man left and center. On Friday, the Dodgers look like they are adding one more name to that mix. They are reportedly zeroing in on a one-year deal with longtime Arizona Diamondback David Peralta, who finished out 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays.
According to sources close to the deal, the team and Peralta have agreed to terms on a one-year, $6.5 million contract, sources told ESPN on Friday. The deal, which is pending the completion of a physical examination, carries incentives that could increase the value to as much as $8 million.
The crowd favorite Peralta had a good career with the D-backs. The “Freight Train,” as he is known, batted .286/.342/.463 from 2014 to 2021, smacking 98 home runs, and swiping 32 bags. That translates into a 14.4 Baseball-Reference wins above replacement. With the D-backs and Rays last year, he batted .251/.316/.415 with 12 home runs in 134 games.
This continues the Dodgers’ off-season strategy of ordering from the value menu. Still, Peralta has a good chance to make the big-league roster, especially given the recent struggles of Chris Taylor and the release of Cody Bellinger during the off-season. If Peralta can emerge as a solid fourth outfielder, it will allow the Dodgers to take their time in developing prospects like James Outman and Andy Pages.
At 35, Peralta’s best days are most likely behind him, so it’s probably best to keep the expectations low on this signing. Still, he’s been a solid player for nearly a decade. And if he can deliver some flexibility to the outfield, all the better. It’s going to be interesting to see who exactly comes out of camp with the starting spots this year, because it’s likely center and left are anybody’s job for the taking at this point.
