Each year at 213 we look through the Non-Roster Invitees to spring training and get to know them a bit. Are they in camp to get a look at big league hitting/pitching to aid their development? Are the Mets just trying to get a better look at a future rookie? Are they a veteran trying to get back to the major league level? What can we expect from them this season?
Jose Peraza is the top infielder on the Non-Roster Invitee list with a chance of making the team this year. Peraza was signed by the Braves in 2010 and was part of a three team trade at the deadline in 2015 between the Braves, Dodgers and the Marlins. In that trade Peraza ended up going to the Dodgers with Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson and Alex Wood. In total 13 players in this trade. He would soon after make his debut with the Dodgers.
He was then involved with another 3-team trade in December of 2015! Peraza was traded to the Reds with a couple of other players. The White Sox were also involved. Mets “legend” Todd Frazier went from the Reds to the White Sox. Anyway he spends a while with the Reds until he becomes a free agent at the end of 2019 when he signed with the Red Sox and then with the Mets in 2020.
Anyway, Peraza is is a career .270/.310/.372/.681 career hitter. He struggled last year with the Red Sox, hitting .225/.275/.342/.617 in only 120 PA’s. He has also hit above a .740 OPS in 2016 and 2018. 2016 was his best season by far where he hit .324/.352/.411/.762. Peraza is also only 27.
I think the pitcher version of Jose Peraza is Arodys Vizcaino or Tommy Hunter. Like both of these pitchers, Peraza has had success in the majors before. I would be more worried about him on the Mets if he was slated for a starting role, or a utility role. But that’s not the 2021 Mets. He’s fighting for a spot and if there’s a injury to a bench player he may slot in well. He’s going to get an extended look this off-season. I’m curious to see how his contract is structured to see if he can opt out if he doesn’t make the team or if he will request to be released so he can sign a major league deal with another team if he has a strong spring.