David Peralta was signed to a one-year contract to join the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2023 season, providing them with a needed left-handed outfield bat.
The veteran joined the Dodgers after spending the majority of his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, then a quick stint with the Tampa Bay Rays after being traded in 2022. In his age-35 season, Peralta posted a .675 on-base plus slugging percentage in 422 plate appearances with 25 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 55 RBI and 47 runs scored.
Facing a heavy dose of right-handed pitchers, Peralta struggled out of the gate. But from May through July, he tallied a 123 wRC+ with an .822 OPS, headed by a .311 batting average.
Although his production slipped in the second half of the year, Peralta’s overall performance was solid for where he’s at in his career.
After reaching multiple benchmarks in his contract, Peralta earned a total of $8 million in salary for the 2023 season and also finished in the mix for a Gold Glove Award for his play in left field.
Peralta had a -3 outs above average (OAA), which placed him in the 24th percentile of left fielders. Peralta’s arm was his best attribute, according to Statcast tracking, ranking in the 61st percentile and taking away one run from opposing teams.
He also finished with seven defensive runs saved (DRS).
David Peralta 2023 highlight
On April 15, the Dodgers celebrated Jackie Robinson Day, and Peralta made the most of the night by having his highest win probability added (WPA) moment of the season at 0.76.
With James Outman’s single in the ninth, it marked the Dodgers’ first hit since the second inning. Miguel Vargas followed it up with a double, and Peralta stepped in with two outs and delivered a walk-off two-run single.
2024 outlook
With a few weeks until the start of Spring Training, Peralta remains unsigned and on the free agent market as he recovers from left elbow surgery.
A significant portion of players are still without teams, and the expectation is that he’ll have a home before camps open. But at 36 years old, Peralta isn’t guaranteed a spot, although his 2023 performance in the right spots does bode well for a team in need of a left-handed bat.
He has contract projections at a one-year, $8.3 million, per Spotrac projections, and with how contracts have been this offseason, Peralta might be in that range.
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