After spending parts of nine seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, David Peralta returned to the National League West by signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one-year, $6.5 million contract last offseason.
Peralta’s deal included an additional $1.5 million in incentives based on time spent on the active roster. The veteran outfielder reached all three bonuses by remaining on the Dodgers roster for 50, 100 and 150 active days, and thus earned a total of $8 million this past season.
Peralta hit .259/.294/.381 with 25 doubles, seven home runs and 55 RBI over 133 games while primarily filling a platoon role in left field. He went 1-for-6 with a double while starting in all three National League Division Series games.
While Peralta was able to remain in the Dodgers lineup for most of the season, it has since been reported that he played through a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow. The 36-year-old suffered the injury around the All-Star break and underwent surgery this month to repair it.
That could at least partially explain Peralta’s drop off in production during the second half of the season. After batting a solid .283/.323/.434 before the All-Star break, he hit just .231/.259/.319 over his final 59 games.
Peralta was among the Dodgers who became a free agent the morning after the 2023 World Series concluded.
David Peralta among 2023 Gold Glove Award finalists
Peralta is a 2023 Gold Glove Award finalist in left field, along with Ian Happ (Chicago Cubs) and Eddie Rosario (Atlanta Braves). Peralta’s inclusion is somewhat surprising due to not grading out favorably in most defensive metrics.
Peralta is a one-time Gold Glove Award winner, which he took received in 2019 while with the Diamondbacks. He also won a Fielding Bible Award that year and was the Diamondbacks’ recipient of the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award that has since been discontinued.
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