Jhonny Peralta signs with Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers announced Monday that they’ve signed infielder Jhonny Peralta to a two-year deal with a club option for 2013. Peralta will make $5.25 million in 2011, and $5.5 million in 2012. Should
the club decline to keep him for the third year of the contract, Peralta will receive a $500,000 buyout, if they keep him he’ll earn $6 million in that final year.
"My first preference is Detroit," said Peralta to MLB.com in a phone interview.
He was acquired by the Tigers in a trade deadline deal in 2010 with the Cleveland Indians for a Minor League pitching prospect, Giovanni Soto.
“Jhonny is a proven major-league player both offensively and defensively,” said Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski. “We feel that Jhonny’s signing, along with the club’s earlier signing
of Brandon Inge, solidifies the left side of our infield for the upcoming season.”
He hit .253 in 57 games for the Tigers last season, adding eight home runs and 38 RBIs. He hit another seven home runs, 43 RBIs, and had a .246 batting average for the Tribe in 2010.
Last week, the Tigers declined his option for the 2011 season, he would have been paid $7.25 million, with the hope that they could still re-sign him to a lesser dollar amount.
He’s played both third base and shortstop in his career, and the Tigers hope he’ll be able to continue his defensive success from 2010 at shortstop. That will leave Brandon Inge playing at third, and give
the Tigers some offence from a normally offensively anaemic position. A position they haven’t had much offense from since Edgar Renteria (2010 World Series MVP) played for the club.
“I’m very happy. I want to thank the fans in Detroit for supporting me in the few months I was there this year,” said Peralta. “I hope I can keep doing well for them.”
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